Reflection of the Image of Ancient Iranian Culture and Civilization in the Works of Jahiz (a case study of the book Al-Taj fi Akhlaq al-Muluk )

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Mashhad, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Faculty of Humanities Sciences, Department of Persian Language and Literature

2 Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract

Imageology is a branch of comparative literature that studies how one's culture is portrayed in the culture and literature of another. The images that belletrists of a nation present as a result of communicating with the people of another nation can represent the attitude of their people towards another nation. Jahiz, known as the father of Arab writers in the Abbasid era, presented numerous images of different nations in his writings, with a deep attitude and vast knowledge gained from the sciences of his time and before. Iranians, with a large population in Jahiz's era and living environment (Basra), are among the nations that Jahiz knew well, as well as their history and culture. Therefore, in his various and numerous writings, he describes some of Iranian characteristics according to the context. In his book, "Al-Taj fi Akhlaq al-Muluk", Jahiz brings in different political, cultural, and social aspects of ancient Iranians. In this research, we classified different images of ancient Iran in this book of Jahiz, based on imagology, and analyzed the reasons for Jahiz's attitude towards Iranians. The results show that Jahiz values the ancient Iranian civilization and the sultans of this land, and by presenting images of the ancient Iranian civilization to the Abbasid rulers, he tries to encourage them to imitate the behavior and performance of the Iranian kings in political, cultural, and social issues.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Iranian Studies
Volume 22, Issue 44 - Serial Number 44
December 2023
Pages 517-554

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