Volume 9, Issue 42 (2022)
CFL 2022, 9(42): 79-108 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Mahjoub F, Tavakkoli Moghaddam S. The Function of Numbers in the Legends of Azerbaijan. CFL 2022; 9 (42) :79-108
URL: http://cfl.modares.ac.ir/article-11-58494-en.html
URL: http://cfl.modares.ac.ir/article-11-58494-en.html
1- Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran , f.Mahjoub1354@pnu.ac.ir
2- Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran.
2- Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract: (1526 Views)
Research background
Anne-Marie Schimmel, (1991) in her book The Secret of Numbers which has been compiled in the form of an encyclopedia, has studied numbers from a historical-comparative perspective and has applied their function in different religions and denominations. Nour Aghaei (2009) in his book Number, Symbol, Myth has studied and analyzed the theme of myths and the function of numbers in advancing their process. Zabihnia Imran and Qayyumizadeh (2017) conducted a study in which they investigated the mythological and symbolic definition of numbers, the ironic compounds and common stereotypes that are due to the impact numbers have on popular culture.
Objectives, questions, and assumptions
This study seeks to map the function of numbers in the popular culture of Azerbaijan and seeks to investigate to what extent the basis of folk tales is related to hypertextual factors. The research questions are: 1. To what extent are numbers involved in the structure of folk tales? 2. Is the function of numbers related to the popular culture of each region? To answer rthe questions, the following hypotheses are raised: 1. Numbers are one of the main influential factors in the myths of nations. 2. The special culture of Azerbaijan has changed the function of some numbers.
The main discussion
The 360-page book Legends of Azerbaijan consists of fifteen legends from the region of Azerbaijan, which was written, translated and adapted by Ahmad Azar Afshar and its ninth edition was published in 2018. The main function of "one" in the legends of Azerbaijan is to happen once and express everyday events. The oppositional function of the "two" axis against the monotheism of the "one" is found in abundance. In a part of the story, we see the number three in the dripping water of life in the mouth of Prince Jamshid. The number four is used repeatedly and the narrator often seeks to draw the perfection and completeness of the subject. Among the functions of the number five in Azerbaijani mythology is the absolute use of the number five next to the number six for approximate reference to the few. "Seven" in all cultures indicates moderation and harmony, with the difference that the Iranians considered "six" to be an imperfect number. This is because "seven" was very sacred to them, and "six" had a defect that was completed by reaching seven. Eight years is the time for the prince to learn science and achieve perfection. The function of expectation and prosperity, which is associated with the number "nine", is one of the most important functions of this number in the legends of Azerbaijan. In terms of frequency in Legends of Azerbaijan, number ten is used 107 times. After that, the numbers smaller than ten is the most used. Number ten, for being the first number after the one-digit numbers, indicates the entry into a new multiplicity, and because it reaches one hundred in the next step, it indicates the return of the multiplicity to unity. Number thirty refers to order and justice and has been used in two places in the myth. Number forty is one of the most widely used numbers.
Conclusion
Apart from the unique function of each number, many of them have common features. This subscription is sometimes multiplied by the same number; for example, 3-6-12 and 40 have been used for grouping, and 4 and 8 have been used to induce perfectionism. Plurality is shown with 5-150-1000 and 7, and time with 4-12-12-40 and 15.18. It seems that there is a two-way relationship between the numbers used and the basis of Azerbaijani myths, which is often epic or love. For example, the multiplicity and frequency that is necessary for exaggeration in the epic is mostly shown by decimal numbers such as 10-50-100 and 1000. This induces the notion that "the hero must go through various stages to reach perfection" of numbers such as 29, 39 or 19, which in the hierarchy of numbers are the last number of the previous row and are incomplete, resulting in an integer after them. ¬ Turn around. Achieving connection, victory and perfection, which are often the theme of love stories, is depicted with 1-4-7-8-9-14 and 15. 7 and 40 also indicate the time of the mourning or marriage ceremonies. The presence of the numbers 1-2, 3 and 3 in the position of the counting unit indicate "A handful of clothes, a meal, a bouquet, a couple of bites on both feet and two eyes". The construction of compounds is manifested as "four-legged, five-door, three-way". Also, the metaphorical compounds such as "one eye blink, two to sit, two legs, three lives" indicate the function of numbers in the structure of language and literature.
References
Azar Afshar, A. (2018). Legends of Azerbaijan (in Farsi). Dey.
Noor Aghaei, A. (2009). Number, symbol, myth (in Farsi). Critique of Thoughts.
Shimmel, A. (1991). The secret of numbers. University of Religions and Religions.
Anne-Marie Schimmel, (1991) in her book The Secret of Numbers which has been compiled in the form of an encyclopedia, has studied numbers from a historical-comparative perspective and has applied their function in different religions and denominations. Nour Aghaei (2009) in his book Number, Symbol, Myth has studied and analyzed the theme of myths and the function of numbers in advancing their process. Zabihnia Imran and Qayyumizadeh (2017) conducted a study in which they investigated the mythological and symbolic definition of numbers, the ironic compounds and common stereotypes that are due to the impact numbers have on popular culture.
Objectives, questions, and assumptions
This study seeks to map the function of numbers in the popular culture of Azerbaijan and seeks to investigate to what extent the basis of folk tales is related to hypertextual factors. The research questions are: 1. To what extent are numbers involved in the structure of folk tales? 2. Is the function of numbers related to the popular culture of each region? To answer rthe questions, the following hypotheses are raised: 1. Numbers are one of the main influential factors in the myths of nations. 2. The special culture of Azerbaijan has changed the function of some numbers.
The main discussion
The 360-page book Legends of Azerbaijan consists of fifteen legends from the region of Azerbaijan, which was written, translated and adapted by Ahmad Azar Afshar and its ninth edition was published in 2018. The main function of "one" in the legends of Azerbaijan is to happen once and express everyday events. The oppositional function of the "two" axis against the monotheism of the "one" is found in abundance. In a part of the story, we see the number three in the dripping water of life in the mouth of Prince Jamshid. The number four is used repeatedly and the narrator often seeks to draw the perfection and completeness of the subject. Among the functions of the number five in Azerbaijani mythology is the absolute use of the number five next to the number six for approximate reference to the few. "Seven" in all cultures indicates moderation and harmony, with the difference that the Iranians considered "six" to be an imperfect number. This is because "seven" was very sacred to them, and "six" had a defect that was completed by reaching seven. Eight years is the time for the prince to learn science and achieve perfection. The function of expectation and prosperity, which is associated with the number "nine", is one of the most important functions of this number in the legends of Azerbaijan. In terms of frequency in Legends of Azerbaijan, number ten is used 107 times. After that, the numbers smaller than ten is the most used. Number ten, for being the first number after the one-digit numbers, indicates the entry into a new multiplicity, and because it reaches one hundred in the next step, it indicates the return of the multiplicity to unity. Number thirty refers to order and justice and has been used in two places in the myth. Number forty is one of the most widely used numbers.
Conclusion
Apart from the unique function of each number, many of them have common features. This subscription is sometimes multiplied by the same number; for example, 3-6-12 and 40 have been used for grouping, and 4 and 8 have been used to induce perfectionism. Plurality is shown with 5-150-1000 and 7, and time with 4-12-12-40 and 15.18. It seems that there is a two-way relationship between the numbers used and the basis of Azerbaijani myths, which is often epic or love. For example, the multiplicity and frequency that is necessary for exaggeration in the epic is mostly shown by decimal numbers such as 10-50-100 and 1000. This induces the notion that "the hero must go through various stages to reach perfection" of numbers such as 29, 39 or 19, which in the hierarchy of numbers are the last number of the previous row and are incomplete, resulting in an integer after them. ¬ Turn around. Achieving connection, victory and perfection, which are often the theme of love stories, is depicted with 1-4-7-8-9-14 and 15. 7 and 40 also indicate the time of the mourning or marriage ceremonies. The presence of the numbers 1-2, 3 and 3 in the position of the counting unit indicate "A handful of clothes, a meal, a bouquet, a couple of bites on both feet and two eyes". The construction of compounds is manifested as "four-legged, five-door, three-way". Also, the metaphorical compounds such as "one eye blink, two to sit, two legs, three lives" indicate the function of numbers in the structure of language and literature.
References
Azar Afshar, A. (2018). Legends of Azerbaijan (in Farsi). Dey.
Noor Aghaei, A. (2009). Number, symbol, myth (in Farsi). Critique of Thoughts.
Shimmel, A. (1991). The secret of numbers. University of Religions and Religions.
 |
Article Type: Original Research |
Subject:
Folklore
Received: 2021/10/22 | Accepted: 2021/12/17 | Published: 2022/01/7
Received: 2021/10/22 | Accepted: 2021/12/17 | Published: 2022/01/7
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |