Etiquette Guides in the Qajar Era
Subject Areas : پژوهشهای ادبیات کلاسیک ایران
MOHAMMAD REZA HAJI AGHA BABAEI
1
,
Faezeh Saadati Masroor
2
1 - Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Allameh Tabatabai University, Iran.
2 - PhD Student in Persian language and literature, Allameh Tabatabai University, Iran.
Keywords: Literary Genre, Instructional Literature, Etiquette Guides, Qajar Prose,
Abstract :
In this study, research data was purposefully gathered through documentary research. While comprehensive statistics on Qajar-era etiquette guides are unavailable, library research and manuscript catalogs yielded forty etiquette guides within the study's scope, analyzed descriptively and analytically.
Introduction
The Qajar period (1797-1925 AD) is considered one of the most turbulent eras in Iranian history. Despite political instability and the inefficacy of rulers and many government officials, from the mid-Qajar era onwards, this period witnessed remarkable cultural and social transformations. Iranians' exposure to the West and their efforts to learn new sciences and modern elements gradually transformed Iran from a backward nation, mired in ignorance and superstition, into a country on the path to development and progress. Nevertheless, various internal and external factors posed numerous challenges, hindering significant progress in this developmental trajectory. From the mid-Qajar era, a spirit of innovation became apparent in various fields. The Naser al-Din Shah era and subsequent periods saw a clash between traditionalists and modernists, with different segments of Iranian society striving to expand new sciences and introduce fresh perspectives.
The mid-Qajar period also marked a growing interest in instructional literature, especially in the writing of etiquette guides. These texts provided educational content on subjects such as individual and social lifestyle, vocational training, various games and entertainment, and more. An etiquette guide is a broad term for instructional texts that offer practical teachings in various aspects of personal and social life, aiming to equip individuals with the necessary skills for social participation.
Research Background
due to the importance of the issue of Etiquette Guides in the Qajar era, so far there has been little research in this field, only some of the species have been studied in research with a historical approach.
Qayyoomi (2007) in this study, at the beginning of the study, the exact definition of literature and language has been studied. Torabi Farsani and Qandi (2015) in this study, the impact of Etiquette Guides in the Qajar Era on social narrative has been studied and the Persian language with its diversity of themes and traditions that address the life and social customs of each era are important historical sources. Iranpour (2019) Training funds have examined the etiquette and motivation of writing them. Torkamani azar (2020) in this study, the author has examined the historical texts of the sixth century in iran up to the sixth century and the result of this research is that kings and kings need knowledge and soldiers to collect and arrange and arrange. ~ ~ ~ with the passage of time and the advancement of knowledge and technology, the physical tools of war have become more modern and the battlefield has changed.
Problem definition
The primary audience for these etiquette guides was generally men, kings, princes, and notable social figures.However, from the mid-Qajar period onwards, especially after the Constitutional Revolution, there was a noticeable shift in the intended audience of these texts.Many authors recognized the importance of focusing on the education of women and children to bring about cultural and social changes.Consequently, the number of etiquette guides written for adolescents and women increased significantly after the Constitutional Revolution, with various works emerging in different fields.
Conclusion
The language and prose of Qajar-era etiquette guides initially exhibited a moderately difficult style, occasionally displaying ostentation through the use of Arabic phrases or complex poetry and vocabulary.Nevertheless, compared to other texts of the period, the prose of these guides was relatively simpler.With the expansion of translated texts and the rise of journalism, the prose of etiquette guides also moved towards simplicity, making them more accessible to the audience.
The structure of etiquette guides also evolved with social transformations.Traditionally, these guides began with a preface praising God, the Prophet Muhammad, and often included encomiums for the king or governmental officials, dedicating the work to them before delving into the main subject.Gradually, especially after the Constitutional Revolution, changes in political and social dynamics led to structural transformations in some etiquette guides.Authors began to abandon traditional structures, directly presenting their teachings in simple language, reflecting a shift in societal attitudes.
Qajar-era etiquette guides were named in three primary ways.Many were titled based on their content and themes.Some authors named their works in honor of a king or another individual to whom the book was dedicated or based on its content.Others chose literary or metaphorical titles, with some even opting for humorous names.
The motivations behind authoring etiquette guides varied.Some writers aimed to address the general needs of the audience, while others wrote at the request of a specific individual.Some authors intended to pass on their knowledge and lived experiences to their children and grandchildren, thus creating these guides.Others wrote to impart specific skills, believing their audience lacked awareness in these areas.Some authors aimed to enlighten people and eradicate ignorance, while others wrote to critique and protest certain societal behaviors, reflecting a critical
stance towards social issues and prevalent superstitions.
Keywords: Literary Genre; Etiquette Guides; Qajar Prose.
References
Ajudani, Mashallah (2006) Or death or modernity, third ed, Tehran, Akhtaran.
Amir Aslan (1886) A Man and a Man's Manners, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 5-12301.
Anonymous (1889) General rules: for the exercises and movements of the government's infantry against Iran, lithography, National Library.Recovery number: 12657-6.
------------- (1925) Ta’dib al-Naswan, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-6161.
------------- (1969) Jame al-Sana'ye: Cookbook from the Qajar era, corrected and revised by Iraj Afshar, Tehran, written heritage.
------------- (n.d) The Game of Chess, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 5-18655.
------------- (18th century) Baker's treatise, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 13866/2.
------------- (2016) Cooking science "The science of cooking, cooking, drinking, al-mazurat, and healers", by Amir Sayad Abdi and Saman Hasibi, Tehran, Ambassador of Ardahal.
Babaei, Reza (2005) "Ritual of Presentation Writing", Research and Field Quarterly, No.23 and 24, pp.223-238.
Behbahani, Abu Talib (1875) Menhaj al-Ola, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 5-10876.
Behbahani, Mohammad Bagher (n.d) Business etiquette, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 5-10314.
Beyg Babapour, Youssef (2014) two treatises on pampering, massage therapy, and fasd from the Qajar period, Tehran, Safir Ardahal.
Etemad al-Saltaneh, Mohammad Hassan (1966) Diaries newspaper, by the effort of Iraj Afshar, Tehran, Amir Kabir.
-------------------- (2012) Rasayel Etemad al-Saltaneh, edited by Mirheshem Mohhaddes, Tehran, Ettelaat.
Etezad al-Saltaneh, Ali Qoli Mirza (1876) treatise on game ninety (Nard), manuscript, Majles library, copy number: 2/8957.
Farahani, Adib al-Mamalek (1896) Ketab al-Sahar va al-Neyranj fi al-Nard va al-Shatranj, manuscript, Majles Library, retrieval number: 7587.
Forsat Shirazi (1874) Chesateh treatise, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 15507.
Feshharaki, Mohammad Baqer ebn Mohammad Jaafar (13th century) Adab al-Sharia al-Muthahara, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-31357.
Haji Aghababai, Mohammad Reza (2021) Typology of Persian Prose in the Qajar Era, Tehran, Mehrandish.
------------------------------------------- (2023) "Lifestyle education, a subspecies in didactic literature", Persian language and literature biannual, year 31, number 95, pp.110-83.
Haji Aghababaei, Mohammad Reza & Narges Salehi (2018) "Review of educational teachings in the first women's specialized press", Research Journal of Educational Literature, Year 11, No 43, pp.1-28.
Hessam al-Douleh, Teymur Mirza (1868) Naseri Book, lithograph, Majles Library, document number: 2-10246.
Iranpour, Amin (2018) Clarifying the place of morals in the traditional educational system in Islamic calligraphy, PhD thesis in the field of comparative and analytical history of Islamic art, under the guidance of Ali Asghar Shirazi, Shahed University, Faculty of Arts.
Jamal ed-Din Mirza (19th century) Shahbaznameh, manuscript, Tehran University Library, copy number: 2436.
Kashani, Ali-Akbarkhan (1974) Table of Food, Tehran, Farhang Iran Foundation.
Khalvati, Mohammad Ibrahim Ebn Ahmad (1885) Naseri manners, lithograph, Tehran, National Library, retrieval number: 6-20801.
Mardukh, Mohammad (1900) Chess Name, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-20674.
Martensk (18th century) Ambassadors' Guide, translated by Mirza Abd ol-Rasoul Monshi, Tabrizi, lithograph, Majles Library, document number: 1-1688.
Miftah ol-Molk Mazandarani, Mahmoud (2016) Discipline of Children, by Ali Kashfi Khansari, Tehran, School.
Mirza Mohammad Ali Khan (1911) Education of girls, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-22362.
Mohammad Kazem ebn Mohammad Ali (19th century) treatise on hunting and slaughter laws, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 5-15726.
Monshi, Azizollah Khan (1908) Tarbiat al-Banat, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-12232.
Mozaffari, Mohammad Ali Khan (1926) Mozaffari's preservation of correctness, lithography, National Library, retrieval number: 6-25002.
Naji Qazvini, Mirza Baqer (19th century) marriage certificate (Nekahie), manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 5-9992.
Naser ed-Din Shah Qajar (2018) Diary of Naser ed-Din Shah Qajar (from Rajab 1284 to Safar 1287), edited by Majid Abd Amin, Tehran, Sokhn.
Natel Khanlari, Parviz (1947) "Persian prose in the recent period".The first congress of Iranian writers, Tehran, gem, pp.128-175.
Nezam Afshar, Mirza Habibollah (1906) Mohmal al-Taqweem, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-15275.
Nawai, Mirza Agha Khan (1898) Akhlaq Mozaffari, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-10737.
----------------- ---------- (2017) Akhlaq Mozaffari, by Seyyed Mohsen Mehrabi, Tehran, school.
Qajar, Mohammad Amin Mirza (1863) Adab al-Qomar, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 5-11291.
Qajar, Nader Mirza (2020) Khoresh's performance, by Nazila Nazemi, Tehran, near.
Qayoumi Bidhandi, Mehrdad (2006) "Etiquettes of Crafts (Etiquettes of Mashq as Sources of Iranian Art History)", Golestan Honar, Third Volume, Vol.4, pp.5-17.
Rahimi, Abbas (2015) Qajar and photography education, Tehran, Farzan Rooz.
Rushdiyeh, Mirza Hassan (1903) Hedayat al-Talim in the principles of teaching Badayeh al-Talim, lithography, National Library, retrieval number: 6-12963.
Ramzi, Sakineh (Fakhroltaj) (1915) Discipline of Virtues or Keeping Children Healthy, Lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-12174.
Rishar Khan Maudab al-Molk (1905) Iranian and Farangi cooking, lithography, National Library, retrieval number: 6-18182.
Saadat, Ahmad (1923) Guide to Saadat, lithography, Majles Library, document number: 11-4219.
Shirazi, Mirza Mohammad (1897) Meftah al-Rezq fi Adab al-Khadem and al-Makhdum, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 15825-6.
Sorogin, Antoine (1878) Photography Fan, manuscript, National Library, retrieval number: 6-11679.
Tabrizi, Mirza Agha (Monshibashi) (2003) Four theaters and a moral treatise, under the care of Hossein Mohammadzadeh Sediq, Tehran, Show (Show Association).
Tajer Yazdi, Mohammad Baqer (1897) treatise of Hazrat Wafur, lithograph, National Library, retrieval number: 6-7150.
Torabi Farsani, Soheila & Zarrin Sharafianpour (2022) Education customs in the process of modernization; Through the social etiquettes of the Qajar period, Tehran, Iranian history.
Torabi Farsani, Soheila & Ali Akbar Qandi (2014) "Manners and their place in social historiography", Iran and Islam History magazine, 25th year, number 27, pp.102-65.
Turkaman-Azar, Parvin (2019) "The position and function of the Revolutionary Guard in the structure of the Iranian government (a study on the 6th-century historical texts and etiquette books)", Historical Essays, 11th period, No.2, pp.1-31.
Yekanlu, Colonel Marandi, Alireza Khan (n.d) Treatise on the etiquette of war = Law of Nezam practice, manuscript, Majles library, retrieval number: 659k.
Zargarinejad, Gholam Hossein (2010) Political Letters of the Qajar Era, Volume 1, Tehran, National Library of the Islamic Republic of Iran.