抄録
Mani's biography is a history of salvation (Heilsgeschichte). It was written sub species ecclesiae et aeternitatis in that it was interpreted as the final act in cosmic battle between Light and Darkness. Because of such theological considerations, the relation between facts and sanctifications in Mani's life is so complex that it is difficult to find out the reality from a few existing data described about his life. Therefore I would like to approach at least for unity Mani's personal image that is fragmentary in these data, refering the result of biographical study about him till now.
The system of these data is divided in two. One is Kitab al-Fihrist's system and the other is Acta Archelai's system. The former is Arabic, oriental and comparatively objective, the latter is Syriac, imaginary and distortional against Mani and his followers with an intention to exclude Manichaeans as the false Christians from Christendom.
And then, depending on descriptions of Cologne Mani Codex specially this research about personal image of Mani in youth was proceeded through these data in two systems.
To conclude, in my opinion, I should suppose a versatile man who lived through the period of youth, having an ambition to reform the present condition of Elchasaites in hostility toward him as Prophet of New Gospel in spiritual life, and also as a watcher of canals and irrigation works or as a medical physician and a spiritual helper, besides these as an intellectual interpreter concerning the universe and a painter, a musician in real life.
