Persian Ming Order (simplified: 波斯明教, traditional: 波斯明教, pinyin: Bōsī Míngjiào, jyutping: bo1 si1 ming4 gaau3) is the mother church of the Ming Order in Persia. It preserves the original Manichaean hierarchy, including the Twelve Treasure Tree Kings (十二宝树王) and Virgin Saints (圣女). The organisation sent envoys to the Chinese Ming Order and pursued Daiqisi after she defected by marrying Han Qianye.
Structure
Twelve Treasure Tree Kings
The Twelve Treasure Tree Kings govern the Persian Ming Order. Notable kings include Chang Sheng Baoshu Wang (Third King, 常胜宝树王), Equality Guardian King, Transparent Guardian King, Unity Guardian King, and Victorious Guardian King. They are skilled in the Holy Fire Tablets Divine Skill and wield the Holy Fire Tablets.
Wind-Cloud-Moon Three Messengers
The Wind-Cloud-Moon Three Messengers (风云月三使)—Huiyue Shi (Bright Moon), Liuyun Shi (Drifting Cloud), and Miaofeng Shi (Mysterious Wind)—served as envoys to Snake Island and fought Zhang Wuji and Xie Xun using the Holy Fire Tablets techniques.
Virgin Saints
Virgin Saints (圣女) are holy maidens who must remain chaste. Daiqisi was a Virgin Saint before she married Han Qianye, which the Order deemed a capital offence. She sent her daughter Xiaozhao to infiltrate the Chinese Ming Order in an attempt to recover the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth and redeem herself.
Relationship with Chinese Ming Order
The Persian and Chinese branches share Manichaean origins but have diverged in practice. The Persian Order retains stricter religious observance and hierarchical structure. Envoys from Persia visited the Chinese Order to exchange ritual objects and techniques; Chang Sheng Baoshu Wang learned part of the Qiankun Great Shift from Zhang Wuji during such an exchange.
Behind the scenes
Significance
The Persian Ming Order represents the orthodox, institutional face of Manichaeism, contrasting with the Chinese Order’s evolution into a revolutionary movement. Daiqisi’s conflict with the Persian Order drives her actions and shapes Xiaozhao’s mission.
See also
- Ming Order — Chinese branch
- Daiqisi — Former Virgin Saint who defected
- Twelve Treasure Tree Kings
- Holy Fire Tablets Divine Skill
Follow a route
- Read: Browse the translation archive for the Order’s appearances in the novels.
- Explore: Continue with the Jin Yong factions and the reference wiki.
- Understand: Read wuxia and jianghu for religious, political, and martial-world context.
- Watch: Follow wuxia adaptations for screen portrayals of the Order and its source works.
- Write: Study story elements in wuxia fiction for faction, belief, and conflict design.