Representation of Children in Kurdish Proverbs and Proverbial Expressions of Ilam
Document Type : پژوهشی اصیل
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
2
Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, Lecturer at Farhangian University of Ilam, Tehran, Iran
10.48311/cfl.2025.86450.0
Abstract
Shamanism, one of the world’s most ancient spiritual traditions, represents a significant form of religious identity among nations. Its importance lies in simultaneously affecting the human body and soul, seeking healing and protection through magical mediation by a shaman who invokes the spirits. The ancient life of the Turkic peoples is deeply intertwined with the emergence of this religion, and due to the historical coexistence of Turks and Azerbaijanis, Shamanistic elements have become embedded in their shared culture. The most prominent cultural representatives of the Turkic world are the Ozans, and within Azerbaijani culture, the Ashiqs—folk singers and poets who, through their social role, resemble shamans as creators, narrators, and heroes of communal tales. Findings reveal that the love epic Asli and Karam, one of Azerbaijan’s enduring legends in Iran, reflects deeply interwoven aspects of Iranian narrative identity—such as love, separation, reunion, and the death of lovers—alongside symbolic Shamanistic motifs including initiation, membership, journey, quest, natural and supernatural influences. These features provide valuable creative material for local performing arts and cinematic adaptations. The results highlight both the story’s reliance on Iranian cultural identity and the persistence of ancient Shamanic symbols shaped by the environmental and biological culture of Turks and Azerbaijanis. This qualitative study employs Eliade’s interpretive anthropological approach, drawing upon Sirus Qamari’s narration of the Asli and Karam legend and utilizes library-based sources.
Keywords
Subjects
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Interviewees:
Hemmati, D., 49 years old, employee, Ivan, Ilam.
Elah Nazari, S., 52 years old, homemaker, Ivan, Ilam.
Moradi-Nasari, M., 36 years old, student, Ivan, Ilam.
Behrami, R., 44 years old, self-employed, Ilam.
Saeedi, S., 47 years old, farmer, Ilam.
Safaei, A., 50 years old, university professor, Ilam.
Abbasi, A., 42 years old, self-employed, Ivan.
