Criticizing the wisdom in Shahnameh
Subject Areas : Research in Iranian classical literature
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Keywords: Ferdowsi Shahnameh criticizing the wisdom absolute wisdom bound wisdom dosh kheradi,
Abstract :
This paper tries to demonstrate Ferdowsi`s concern toward the golden period of Iranian civilization in which wisdom was a distinctive factor through the application of a descriptive-analysis approach. Moreover, it aims to explain the significance of the wisdom in Iranian ancient culture to which this poet belongs as well as the place of wisdom in Shiite religion of which he was one of its followers. None of these factors, however, have dissuaded him, the scholar who believed and accepted the wisdom by his own personal talent, from considering negative and indecent aspects of the wisdom. Hence, despite the popular belief, not only does not Shahnameh praise the wisdom but also talks about noxious wisdom and its problems. As a result, this research could remove the existed ambiguity in the reading of the fourth verse of Shahnameh`s introduction, under the title of “in praise of the wisdom”, and could attract the reader to pay attention to Ferdowsi’s point of view about criticizing the wisdom. It is necessary to point out that, in spite of seeking for the related sources, the author could not uncover any background which may cover the proposed reading of the aforementioned verse and also any related resource about “criticizing the wisdom in Shahnameh.”
