Devotional Poetry in Technical Manuscript Terminology: An Introduction to The Rose Garden of Purity (Golzār-e Ṣafā)

Abstract

Among the wide variety of Persian manuscript categories, there is a
distinctive genre that includes recipes on materials and technics of
manuscript production. And within this genre, we come across distinctly
interesting works that adopt charming romantic poetry to record subjects
that are rather dull, dry, and unattractive to the general audience! One of
such historical sources is a sixteenth century manuscript entitled Rose
Garden of Purity (Golzār-e Ṣafā) by ʿAlī Ṣayrafī, preserved in Paris Central
Library. The subject of this research is the manuscript’s impressive Preface
in which the poet expresses his sincere devotion to his Creator, and begs for
forgiveness – all in melodious poetic language, using technical manuscript
terms, colors and pigments as symbols and metaphors. The essay provides
an opening remark entitled ‘Manuscripts on Manuscript Production’
followed by and introduction to the manuscript of ‘Golzār-e Ṣafā (Rose
Garden of Purity). The little knowledge extracted about ʿAlī Ṣayrafī from
the manuscript is shared under ‘The Author-cum-Poet.’ ‘Preface with 12
Couplets’ is the focal point of the essay; there the 12 couplets (24
hemistiches) are presented in the original language (Farsi/Persian) along
with an English translation that is published here for the first time. A
detailed analysis of technical terms used in the Preface, and an elaboration
of their symbolic significance, is presented under ‘Expression of Devotion in
Technical Manuscript Vocabulary.’