THE HISTORY OF THE TURKIC-MANICHAEAN SCRIPT

Abstract

The Turkic-Manichaean script (Turkic-Manichean writing) holds an important place in the religious-spiritual and cultural life of ancient Turkic peoples. It was mainly used in the 6th–10th centuries by Turkic communities that propagated the teachings of Manichaeism. Developed on the basis of the Manichaean alphabet, it was adapted to the phonetic structure of the Turkic language under the influence of Sogdian and Aramaic scripts. Texts written in this script (hymns, prayers, religious-philosophical works) are often bilingual (Tocharian+Turkic, Iranian+Turkic) and have been preserved in manuscripts discovered in the Turfan (Eastern Turkestan) region. In the Turkic-Manichaean environment, manuscript book production (pothi style, use of paper and palm leaves) was highly developed, and literacy levels were elevated. This script played a significant role in the development of ancient Turkic literature and culture, and it also influenced the later formation of the Uyghur script. The article briefly covers the origins of the Turkic-Manichaean script, its areas of application, the characteristics of the texts, and its historical significance.