Cao'an

Cao'an
草庵
Religion
AffiliationManichaeism
ProvinceFujian
DeityBuddha of Light (Mani)
Location
CountryChina
Cao'an is located in China
Cao'an
Shown within China
Geographic coordinates24°46′25″N 118°31′47″E / 24.77361°N 118.52972°E / 24.77361; 118.52972
LocationChina
Part ofQuanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China
CriteriaCultural: (iv)
Reference1561
Inscription2021 (44th Session)
Cao'an Temple seen from the south, with Huabiao Hill in the background

Cao'an (Chinese: 草庵; pinyin: Cǎo'ān; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chháu-am; lit. 'thatched nunnery'[1]) is a temple in Jinjiang, Fujian, Luoshan Subdistrict [zh]. Originally constructed by Chinese Manichaeans, it was considered by later worshipers to be a Buddhist temple. This "Manichaean temple in Buddhist disguise"[2] had historically been seen by modern experts on Manichaeism as "the only Manichaean building which has survived intact".[3] However, other Manichaean buildings have survived intact, such as the Xuanzhen Temple, also in China. In 2021, Cao'an was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with many other sites near Quanzhou because of its unique testimony to the exchange of religious ideas and cultures in medieval China.[4] Over 2022, the number of tourists to the location doubled and preservation efforts began.[5]

  1. ^ Lieu, Samuel N. C.; Parry, Ken. "MANICHAEAN AND (NESTORIAN) CHRISTIAN REMAINS IN ZAYTON (QUANZHOU, SOUTH CHINA) ARC DP0557098". Macquarie University. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22.
  2. ^ Sundermann, Werner (2009-07-20). "MANICHEISM i. GENERAL SURVEY". Encyclopædia Iranica. Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  3. ^ Lieu 1992, pp. 256–257
  4. ^ "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 22 Aug 2021.
  5. ^ "晋江草庵摩尼光佛造像：一年来游客量翻番 规划建设文旅街区 -泉州网|泉州晚报社 泉州新闻门户网站". www.qzwb.com. Retrieved 2022-10-29.