Reflection of the musk color in Persian literature and evidence from Shahnameh for the use of musk and its associated materials as dyestuffs in old handwritings and paintings

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Persian literature, Najafabad branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Persian literature, Najafabad branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.

3 Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Islamic Azad University, Najaf Abad

4 Assistant professor, faculty of applied Art, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran.

10.29252/kavosh.2020.1838

Abstract

Shahnameh is not just a literary work; it is also an important source that contains information about architecture, medicine, astronomy, dyestuffs and beliefs in ancient Iran.
The color of the musk and the dyeing properties of this material ae referred to in literary texts in various ways, but they are more evidently used in the writing and painting of Shahnameh.
 
Interestingly, despite the fact that musk and its color are referred to in literary texts, nowadays, it is known more as an aromatic material and its properties as a dye are ignored in Persian dictionaries. This has led to doubts about the color of the substance not only in the interpretation of poems but also in the scientific-historical facts related to the knowledge of dyes (for example, the classification of inks in ancient times).
In this research, first, the reflection of the color of musk in Persian poems has been studied, and its being mentioned as a dyestuff in writings and paintings is proved based on the references in literary texts, especially Shahnameh and books about ancient Iranian dyestuffs.
The musk in Shahnameh literature is a material for writing and painting. It is combined with words such as the anqas (black ink), amber, bitumen, abir, rose water, papagayi (the objects that were written on) Chinese Harir and Indian Parand. Lack of consideration for these items in literary texts has led to the defective interpretation of verses.
In this research, based on the association of musk with other related terms in Shahnameh, the relationship between them and the color of musk has been studied. As the results show, there is a historical background for musk to have been used as a dye and ink in writing and painting. The study also presents discussions with which the poems that point to the color of musk and its accompanying materials will be easily understood.
 

Keywords

References

Asadi toosi,A(1940) Fors vocabulary, corrected By Eqbal,A,Tehran: Majles Publication.
Asadi toosi, H.A(1975) Garshasb Book, collected By Yaqmaie.H, 2th ed, Tehran: Tahoori Liberary .
Al-Monjad Fe Loqat Arab(1956), 15th ed, Beyroot: Alkasolikie.
Moezi Samarqandi(1939) Divan- i-Amir Moezi, corrected By Eqbal.A, Tehran: Eslamiye Book store.
Anvari.H(2002) The words big dictionary, 8 vol, Tehran: Sokhan.
Borhan.M.H(2001) Borhan Qatea Persian Dictionary, Tehran: Nima.
Ohadi.R.(1983) Divan-i-Ohadi Marqei, Corrected By Ashrafi.A.H, Tehran: Pishro.
Tamimi Moqaddas.M(2013) Habib ol Aroos and Reyhan Ol Nofoos, collected By Moqadasi.E, Tehran: Safiir Ardahal.
Jami.A(1999) Haft Orang Masnavi, vol 2, corrected By Dad ali shah Jabolqa and et al, Tehran: Ayeneh Miras
Hafez Shirazi.KH.M.SH(1939) Divan-i- Khaje shams ol-din Mohammad Hafez Shirazi, collected By Pezhman.H: Elmi Tazamoni Co.
Khaled Azab(2007) Knowldage pot: From stone to instant publication, Mansoor.A and Abed, Eskandariye: Makbab Ol-Eskandariye.
Danisiri. I.A.A(1971) Navader-AL- Tabadur LI Tuhfata-Al- Bahadur, edited By Afshar.I. Tehran: institute for humanities and cultural studies.
Dehkhoda.A.(1960) Dehkhoda Persian Dictionary, Tehran: Siroos.
Sadi.M(2006) Koliat – e- Sadi, edited By Frooqi.M.A, Tehran:Hermes.
Sanaie.A(2001) Divan-i-Hakim Sanaie Qaznavi, edited By Modarres Razavi, 5th pub, Tehran: Sanaie.
Onsori(1984)Divan-i- Onsori balkhi, edited By Dabir Siaqi.M,2th edition, Tehran: sanaie library.
Farrokhi Sistani(1932) Divan-i-Farrokhi Sistani, edited By Abderasooli.A, Tehran: Matbae Majlis.
Ferdowsi.A,(2009) Shahnamah,edited By Hamidian.S,Tehran:Qatreh.
Qlichkhani.H(1994) Handwrittings about calligraphy and affiliated arts, Tehran: Rozaneh.
Kashani.A(2007) Arayes- al- Javaher va Nafayes-AL-Atayeb,edited By Afshar.I. Tehran: Alomaei.
Kazzazi.M.(2000-2009) Nameh Bastan, report and edition of Shahnameh, 9 Vol, Tehran: Samt.
Mayel. Heravi.N(1993) Booklet in Islamic civilization: rasael collection in calligraphy, compilation, paper, illumination and testimony.Mashhad: Astan Qods Razavi: Islamic research foundation.
-------------------(1974) vocabulary and terminology of bibliography with glossary and painting terms, Tehran: foundation of Iranian culture.
Mosaheb.Q(2001) Persian encyclopedia. Vol 3, Tehran: Amirkabir
Mazaheri.A(2009) the silk  Road. Vol2. Translated By Noban,Tehran: institute of Humanities and cultural studies.
Moein. M(1997) Persian encyclopedia. 6 VOL, Tehran: Amirkabir.
Abd-al- Rashid Tatavi(1872) Rashidi encyclopedia, 2 Vol, Kalkate Pulication.
Manoochehri Damqani(1959) Divan. Edited By Dabir Siaqi.M.Tehran: Zavvar.
Nezami. E(1960) Khosro and Shirin, Valexander Vich Xe Taqorof, Bakoo: Azarbijan republic academy
------(1938) Eqbal Nmeh , Vahid Dastgerdi, Tehran: Armaqan.
Nafisi.A(1976) Nafisi encyclopedia , 5 vol, Tehran: Khayyam.
Yaqoobi.A. (1963) Al- boldan , translated By Ayati. M., Tehran: translation and publication company.
Sircar,D.C.1996. Indian Epigraghy.2th ed.  Delhi: Motilar Banarsidass[in English]
Eastaugh,Nicholas,Walsh.valentine,Chaplin.tracey, Siddall Ruth(2008)pigment compendium A dictionary and optical microscopy of historical pigments: Elsevier Ltd. [in English]
 
Journals:
 
Ghori,S.A.K;Rahman A, 1966. Paper technology in medieval india, jornal of the history of the science, vol 1. N2: pp 133-149[in English]
Abadian.R(2011) The musk and the bag of musk poetic adjectives in Persian poems, sabk shenasi nazm va nasr farsi, N3: pp283-299 .
-----------------(2011) The musk and its didactic accompaniment, Vizhe Nameh  Farhangestan, N4: pp174-196.
-------(2011) The musk application in Iranian’s Life and its direct effect on Persian poems, history of literature Journal, N 68/3: pp5-30.
Abadian.R, Eidgah.V(2011) Medical application of the musk and its reflection on Persian poems, textual criticism of Persian literature , N12: pp 113-129.
Azadi Boyaqchi et al(2017) the study of traditional weighting system for ink making in calligraphy treaties ,Ganjineh Asnad. Vol27, issue 1, pp88-102
Wng Yidan(1992) The khotan musk , Future, 18th year: pp342-346.
Soltani. Z et al(2016) a comparative study of calligraphy ink compositions used among Iranians, Ottomans, Chineese, Indiansand Arabs, Ganjineh Asnad, N.101: pp124-139.
Azimi.H(2011) Manuscript papers, national studies on librarianship and information organization, vol 44. Issue 4: pp 38-54.
 
 

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics