دانشگاه اصفهان متن شناسی ادب فارسی 2476-3268 18 3 2026 08 23 Analysis of Folk Rituals in the Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati تحلیل آیین‌های عامه در رباعیات اثیرالدین اخسیکتی 1 23 30325 10.22108/rpll.2026.147120.2516 FA فرشاد اسکندری شرفی دانشجوی دکتری زبان و ادبیات فارسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه اصفهان، اصفهان، ایران محمود براتی خوانساری استاد زبان و ادبیات فارسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه اصفهان، اصفهان، ایران محسن محمدی فشارکی دانشیار زبان و ادبیات فارسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه اصفهان، اصفهان، ایران Journal Article 2025 10 20 Abstract Folk culture, with its various elements, has long played a significant role in shaping the content of Persian poetry, serving as the foundation for its semantic and content expansion. The incorporation of elements of folk culture in Persian poetry has not only broadened its semantic and content range but has also led to an increase in the volume of ambiguities and the level of obscurity within Persian poetry; this function has been particularly pronounced in certain periods, making poetic texts more challenging to understand. The sixth century AH stands out as one of these periods, characterized by a strong inclination among poets to incorporate elements of folk culture, resulting in the creation of numerous ambiguous and obscure poems. Athir al-Din Akhsikati is a poet from the sixth century known for his many ambiguous and obscure works. In this descriptive-analytical study, based on library documents and resources, a total of 564 Rubaiyats by Athir al-Din Akhsikati have been examined and analyzed in terms of their incorporation of popular rituals, which are significant elements of folk culture. The findings demonstrate that popular rituals are both frequently and diversely represented in Athir al-Din Akhsikati’s Rubaiyat, thereby contributing significantly to the enigmatic nature of many of these poems. The principal categories of popular rituals identified within the Rubaiyat include 1) slavery rituals, 2) courtly, civil, and military rituals, 3) religious rituals, 4) joy-related rituals, 5) rituals associated with death and mourning, 6) drinking rituals, and 7) various other ritual forms. Keywords: Popular Rituals, Persian Poetry, Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati. Introduction Folk culture encompasses a diverse range of cultural elements, both material and immaterial, that are passed down through oral tradition rather than formal education. Unlike official culture, which is taught through written textbooks and educational systems, folk culture is acquired, experienced, and institutionalized through oral processes. Despite these differences, folk culture and official culture share commonalities and relationships. One such relationship can be seen in Persian poetry, where elements of folk culture have been utilized since the inception of Persian poetry. The sixth century of Persian poetry, in particular, saw a widespread use of various elements of folk culture. While this enriched the content of Persian poetry, it also made it more challenging and less accessible. Understanding the basics of folk culture is essential for interpreting the meaning and content of poetry from this period. Athir al-Din Akhsikati, a prominent poet from the sixth century, is known for the complexity and incomprehensibility of his poetry. The use of popular culture elements in his work has contributed significantly to this complexity. This study focuses on the use of popular rituals, a key element of folk culture, in Athir al-Din Akhsikati’s Rubaiyat. The aim is to explore the extent and types of popular rituals used in his poems and analyze how they contribute to the difficulty and incomprehensibility of his poetry. Materials and Methods The method used in this study is descriptive-analytical. Data were obtained through documents and library resources. The text under investigation is the Rubaiyat section of the Divan of Athir al-Din Akhsikati. To access these Rubaiyats, the correction of Mahmoud Barati Khansari from the first edition published in 2019 was utilized, out of the three available corrections of the Divan of Athir al-Din Akhsikati. According to this correction, there are 564 Rubaiyats by Athir al-Din Aksikti, found on pages 727 to 847 of his Divan. Due to the size of the population and the statistical sample in this study, all members of the statistical population (564 Rubaiyats) were studied, examined, and analyzed in terms of their depiction of public rituals. Research Findings In the study of the 564 Rubaiyats of Athir al-Din Akhsikati in terms of the use of folk rituals, many instances of this element of folk culture were identified. It should be noted that folk rituals are one of the most important and widely used elements of folk culture in the Rubaiyats of Athir al-Din Akhsikati. These folk rituals are remarkably diverse and cover different areas. In this study, they have been categorized into 7 groups: Rituals of Servitude Court, Civil, and Military Rituals Religious and Spiritual Rituals Rituals of Joy Death and Mourning Rituals Drinking Rituals Other Rituals The abundance and variety of folk rituals in the Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati demonstrate that this poet was heavily influenced by the prevalent practice in Persian poetry during the sixth century AH. The quantity and diversity of folk rituals in his Rubaiyat also contribute to the complexity and challenge in understanding his work. The presence of these rituals in Athir al-Din Akhisikti’s Rubaiyat enhances the levels of meaning and content in these poems, creating connections between these different levels. Discussion of Results and Conclusion The following lines briefly describe the seven categories of public rituals found in the Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati, along with an explanation of selected examples from each category: Rituals of Servitude: Slavery (or servitude) was a well-known social institution in the history of Iran before and after Islam, with its own rituals and customs. The rituals and customs associated with slavery often reflected the contemptuous attitude and violent behavior of slave owners towards individuals of this low social class. Persian poetry has provided valuable information about the institution of slavery and the social class of slaves. The Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati is an example of this, mentioning slavery and slaves extensively. The main rituals and customs of slavery in the Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Aksikati include: 1) buying and selling slaves, 2) putting a ring in the ear of a slave, 3) making love to a slave, and 4) freeing a slave. Court, Civil, and Military Rituals: Iranians have a rich history in governance and civilization building, with various rituals and traditions that have influenced other governments and civilizations. Persian poetry’s interaction with the ruling governments of Iran, through eulogies, played a significant role in the influence of court, civil, and military rituals on Persian poetry. The Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati features court, civil, and military rituals, including: 1) “Ejri”, 2) “Bar Dadan” (Giving permission), 3) training a hunting falcon for the king, 4) “Choobak Zadan” (Playing the drums), and 5) placing poison under the royal ring. Religious and Spiritual Rituals: Rituals are essential elements in the worship and belief systems of various religions and sects. Iranian culture has seen the emergence of new religions and sects, with followers practicing various religious rituals. Persian poetry reflects these religious rituals, with the Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati featuring Islamic rituals such as: 1) seeing the new moon as a sign of the end of fasting, 2) circumambulating the Kaaba, and 3) the prohibition of “Haram” hunting. Rituals of Joy: Iranian culture has long been rich in celebrations and ceremonies of joy, many of which are still practiced today. These events were institutionalized in the context of national and religious issues, leading Iranians to deeply believe in and uphold these traditions. Some Iranian celebrations were tied to natural or significant life stages, beginning concurrently with these periods. Persian poetry often highlights the specific rituals associated with these joyous ceremonies. For example, the Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati mentions rituals like “Hejleh Bastan” and “Shekkar Chidan”. Death and Mourning Rituals: Death is a fundamental aspect of human life, leading to the development of various rituals across cultures to cope with the uncertainties and emotional impact it brings. In the Iranian culture, rituals surrounding death have been prevalent throughout history, often depicted in Persian poetry. The Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati illustrates rituals such as: 1) applying camphor to the dead body, 2) shrouding the dead body, 3) burying the body, and 4) wearing mourning clothes (“Kabood Poushi”) in funerals. Drinking Rituals: Drinking rituals in Iranian culture are closely tied to wine, from its preparation to consumption and effects. Persian poetry has long explored the theme of drinking, influencing the creation of various rituals related to it. The Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati mentions rituals like 1) drinking in memory of someone, 2) drinking snacks, 3) making friends, and 4) purifying wine. Other Rituals: The seventh category in the Rubaiyat of Athir al-Din Akhsikati is titled “Other rituals”. These public rituals can be categorized into two types. The first type includes rituals specific to certain regions, omitted due to their rarity. The second type encompasses rituals with multiple aspects, bridging different categories or incorporating elements from previous rituals. Examples from this category include: 1) wearing “Kaghazin Pirahan”, 2) applying a mole on the forehead with the blood of the victim, 3) “Khazab Kardan”, 4) “Dagh Kardan”, 5) “Dayegi”, 6) “Sala Dar Dadan”, 7) “Ayyari”, and 8) “Kous Zadan” (a singing tool). فرهنگ عامه با عناصر گوناگونی که دارد، از دیرباز تا کنون در شعر فارسی کارکردی محتواسازانه داشته و آن زمینۀ بسط معنایی و محتوایی این نوع ادب فارسی را فراهم آورده‌است؛ البته به‌کارگیری عناصر گوناگون فرهنگ عامه در شعر فارسی، به‌منظور گسترش دامنۀ معنایی و محتوایی آن، با پیامد مهم دیگری در شعر فارسی همراه بوده و آن افزایش حجم ابهامات و سطح دیریابی شعر فارسی است. کارکرد مذکور فرهنگ عامه در شعر فارسی، در برخی از دوره‌های آن، کمیت بیشتری داشته و به‌تناسب، درک شعر فارسی آن دوره‌ها را دشوارتر ساخته است. شعر فارسی قرن ششم، از جملۀ این دوره‌هاست. در این دوره، گرایش شدید شاعران به استفاده از عناصر گوناگون فرهنگ عامه، در کنار مسائلی دیگر، منجر به پیدایش اشعار مبهم و دیریاب بسیاری شده است. اثیرالدین اخسیکتی، از شاعران سدۀ ششم با اشعار مبهم و دیریاب فراوان است. در این پژوهش توصیفی‌تحلیلی که داده‌های آن برگرفته از اسناد و منابع کتابخانه‌ای است، رباعیات پُرتعداد اثیرالدین اخسیکتی (564 مورد)، از نظر کاربرد آیین‌های عامه، از عناصر مهم فرهنگ عامه، بررسی و تحلیل شده ‌است. مطابق دستاورد پژوهش، آیین‌های عامه در رباعیات اثیرالدین اخسیکتی بسامد و تنوع بالا دارد و آن از زمینه‌های ‌اصلی ابهام و دیریابی در بسیاری از این رباعیات است. مهم‌ترین انواع آیین‌های عامه، در رباعیات اثیرالدین اخسیکتی: 1. آیین‌های بندگی، 2. آیین‌های درباری، دیوانی و لشکری، 3. آیین‌های دینی و مذهبی، 4. آیین‌های شادی، 5. آیین‌های مرگ و سوگواری، 6. آیین‌های میگساری، و 7. سایر آیین‌ها است.

https://rpll.ui.ac.ir/article_30325_fc8992895314a3d43a468b9190532384.pdf