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Manuscript/Mixed Material Note about the construction of a takiyah-khanah

About this Item

Title

  • Note about the construction of a takiyah-khanah

Created / Published

  • 20th century

Headings

  • -  Calligraphy, Arabic
  • -  Calligraphy, Persian
  • -  Manuscripts, Persian--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  Iran
  • -  India
  • -  Arabic script calligraphy
  • -  Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Islamic calligraphy
  • -  Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Nasta'liq

Notes

  • -  Shi'i passion plays (ta'ziyah) reenacting the tragic events at Karbalah in 680. Persian in Nasta'liq script from 20th century Iran or India.
  • -  Dimensions of Written Surface: 67.4 (w) x 95.5 (h) cm
  • -  For an in-depth study of Shi'i passion plays (ta'ziyah), see Peter Chelkowski, "Ta'ziyeh: Ritual and Drama in Iran" (New York: NYU Press, 1979).
  • -  Satta zamana Muhammad 'Ali bana farmud / Imam barapay dhikr va majlis-i Hasanayn / Za ruya ah dilam khwand nuha ta'rikh / Bana-yi ta'ziya va matam-i Imam Husayn.
  • -  These lines specify that a certain Muhammad 'Ali ordered the construction of a building intended for the commemorations (dhikr) services and mourning (matam) ceremonies of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn. Such a building is called a takiyah or takiyah-khanah, and was used for the staging of Shi'i passion plays (ta'ziyah) reenacting the tragic events at Karbalah in 680. Takiyahs were built by Shi'i communities in Iran and India during the 19th and 20th centuries. For example, one of the most famous takiyahs was ordered built by Mu'avin al-Mulk in Kermanshah (southwestern Iran) in 1313/1895-6. A lavishly decorated and multipart complex, it was constructed for a variety of religious events and performances linked to Imam Husayn's martyrdom.
  • -  This large piece of paper, constructed of a number of separate sheets pasted together, includes four lines of writing in nasta'liq script. At the top appears the number 786, which in the abjab (letter number) system is equivalent to sum total of the letters appearing in the bismillah. In other words, the number 786 at the top of the page functions as an initial praise of God, the Merciful, the Beneficient, immediately before the text's main contents. The four lines immediately below read:
  • -  Script: nasta'liq
  • -  1-85-154.85

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 67.4 (w) x 95.5 (h) cm

Repository

  • Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714621

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Near East Section Persian Manuscript Collection

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Note About the Construction of a Takiyah-Khanah. 20th Century. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714621/.

APA citation style:

Note About the Construction of a Takiyah-Khanah. 20th Century. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714621/.

MLA citation style:

Note About the Construction of a Takiyah-Khanah. 20th Century. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714621/>.