The Manichean religion, first mentioned in Chinese literature by Xuanzang in his Memoirs, between A. D. 630 and 640. The first Manichean missionary from 大秦 Daqin reached China in 694. In 732, an imperial edict declared the religion of Mani a perverse doctrine, falsely taking the name of Buddhism. It continued, however, to flourish in parts of China, especially Fukien, even to the end of the Ming dynasty. Chinese writers have often confused it with Mazdeism 火祅教.

A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms, William Edward Soothill and Lewis Hodous

末尼教===（流派）具云末尼火祆教。為波斯國之火教也。末尼為寶珠，火祆言其光明，即彼教之神體太陽也。佛祖統紀三十九曰：「唐太宗貞觀五年，初波斯國蘇魯支，立末尼火祆教，敕於京師立大秦寺。」，「祆，火煙反，胡神，即外道梵志也。波斯國在西海，此云大秦。」同四十一曰：「代宗永泰三年，敕回紇奉末尼者，建大雲光明寺。」同四十二曰：「五代梁末帝貞明六年，陳州末尼，聚眾反，立母乙為天子，朝廷發兵擒母乙斬之。其徒以不茹葷飲酒，夜聚婬穢。畫魔王踞坐，佛為洗足。云佛是大乘，我法乃上上乘，其上慢不法有若此。」

丁福保《佛學大辭典》