On the Finding of Cao'an Manichaean Temple in Jinjiang County

Cao'an temple,a sinicized Manichaean shrine located at the foot of Huabiao Mountain of Jinjiang,was established at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.A stone statue of Buddha Mani ever worshiped by the Manichaeans is well-preserved in Cao'an temple now,which serves as the sole surviving Manichaean statue in the world.As early as 1950's,the temple with the statue was found and confirmed by Chinese scholars,which was already acknowledged by the international academic circle.However,after the Investigation Group of Maritime Silk Route of UNESCO visited the temple in February 1991,it's claimed that the temple was a great discovery by the Investigation Group.The article is presented here for revealing the truth of the finding of Cao'an temple,pointing out it is the former Chinese scholars,especially Mr.Wu Wenliang,a scholar from Quanzhou that made the pioneering contribution to the finding and confirmation of this rare relic.