Elements
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Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright Manage No EE00000111 Country Iran ICH Domain Oral traditions and representations Performing Arts Social practices, rituals, festive events Traditional craft skills Address This ritual is performed in a place named “Zoorkhane”. There are about 500 Zoorkhanes throughout Iran and most of them are in the central provinces.
| Description | The Ritual of Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei is a collection of rhythmic moving skills, music and dramatic art in a holy place named “Zoorkhane”. In this ritual a group of 10 to 20 men, using tools that symbolically represent the ancient weapons, perform rhythmic and musical, dramatic and ritualistic movements. Zoorkhane, the place for the administration of the Element enjoys a special architecture, a blend of Mithraic temples and Islamic architecture. The major sections of the place include a dome, the arena (Gowd: an octagonal pit, 70cm deep, wherein the rituals are administered and the practitioners stand on specific spots according to age and seniority), the audience seats (overlooking the arena), and “Sardam” wherein the Morshed sits. The Zoorkhane gate is short to encourage bending at the entrance to pay respect toward the holy place. The tools, equipment and sportswear of Zoorkhane are mostly made in the cities of Tehran and Mashhad by skillful craftsmen. In the history of Iran, this Element has been influenced by epical myths and a worldview based on the ancient Iranian ethical trilogy “Good Though, Good Deed, Good Speech”. It roots back to Mithraism in 3000 years ago. This ritual has been and is practiced from the ancient times in most parts of Iran as well as some regions of such neighboring countries as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan and India. The element enjoys a masculine nature and its practitioners belong to all social strata. Ethical and chivalrous values are instructed under the supervision of a Pahlavan (""champion"", a master in skills and heroic ethics) within the epical poems recited by a Morshed (""preceptor""), accompanied by music and sport rhythmic movements. “Morshed” is a singer who plays “Zarb”, an Iranian percussion instrument, recites epical and mystical poems, and leads and harmonizes chanson with the music and sport-like dramatic movements. The poems that are recited by the Morshed constitute part of Zoorkhanei literature. In the course of the ritual, dramatic, sport-like, musical and acrobatic movements are performed and, finally, the ceremony is ended with prayers that connote expansion of peace and friendship among nations, and resolving the needy people’s hardships. Golrīzān Ceremony: One of the side programs of the Element is the “Golrīzān” Ceremony that is organized as a homage for pioneers (Pīshkesvat's), champions and preceptors, or for collecting financial contributions for the needy, the sick, or orphans. In this ceremony flowers are put at every corner of Zoorkhane, as a sign for invitation for contribution; the collected contributions are, then, secretly granted to the needy, by a group of trustees. The practitioners in the ritual wear special sportswear, usually, consisting of a pair of trunks - decorated with Arabesque drawings- and a t-shirt. On the clothes and some of the Zoorkhanei tools, motifs of Botee-Jeghghe (an abstraction of a bent cypress symbolizing a humble champion) are observed. |
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| Social and cultural significance | Social and Cultural Functions: • Pahlavans continue to play the important role of administrators of social security for the community (especially in villages). • Considering the large number of active Zoorkhane's –about 500- throughout the country, this Element can occupy the people’s, especially the youth’s, leisure time, and propagate mental and social health among them. • Considering the absence of age limits for practicing the rituals, hence, fathers and sons participate abreast, and this leads to less cleavage between the generations. • Regarding the participation of people from different classes and strata, disregarding social privileges, the only criterion shall remain as their chivalrous characteristics and seniority, and this shall encourage respect for peace and ethical values. • The council of each Zoorkhane –comprising of owner(s), Morshed's, manager, and a few number of pioneers and practitioners- manages and programs the activities and ceremonies. The budget needed is financed through people’s donations and practitioners’ contributions. • All social strata including, teenagers, youth, adults and elders, both urban and rural, university students, clergies, various guilds and professions participate in the ritual as Morshed's, Pahlavan's, or practitioners. The participation does not recognize any religious limitations. • The most prominent rank in the ritual is “Pahlevanī” that a person acquires after learning the individual skills and arts, and more importantly, the high morals of Pahlavanī. Therefore, as Pahlavan's, they enjoy high positions in the community; they function unofficially as authorities for settlement of family and local problems, and references of appropriate social behavior. |
| Transmission method | Methods of Transmission and Training: • There are two general methods for transmission and training: traditional and modern. In traditional method, the skills, manners and morals are learnt chest-by-chest, by masters on pupils, as well as through observation accompanied by participation. The modern method, popular only recently, constitutes training courses in Zoorkhane instructed by pioneer coaches. • The traditional music training: The interested individual needs to possess an acceptable voice quality. He, first, learns the skills to play Zarb, and then the singing skills, to sing/recite epical and mystical poems of Zoorkhanei literature in the framework of the Iranian Traditional Musical Repertory. The trainee should also pass mystical and ethical stages to become a Morshed. The process lasts for many years, during which the Morshed acquires a valuable position in the ritual and the society. • The modern music training: The interested individual participates in special classes in Zoorkhane's. Besides learning the Iranian Traditional Music, he learns to play the percussion instruments based on a syllabus. • The skills that are often learnt via the traditional method are based on observation accompanied by participation. The beginners are trained via mater-student method and under the supervision of one of the pioneers. Meanwhile, Pahlevani manners and ethics are also transmitted to the individuals. |
| Community | This ritual is participated by men and a number of individuals from different groups and strata participate. It is performed throughout Iran. During the past years, some communities and NGO's have been established, as by-products of the ritual. These include (1) The Association of Morsheds, (2) The Association of Pishkesvats (3) The Pahlevani Society of Students, (4) The Pahlevani Society of High School Students, (5) The Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei Federation. Besides the above-mentioned groups, there are 500 Zoorkhanes all over Iran. Each Zoorkhane comprises of practitioners, its founders and a number of Pīshkesvats. 1. Morsheds, singers who play musical instruments and recite epical and Sufi poems, lead the ceremony, and teach the ethical and social concepts. 2. Pīshkesvats are champions who gradually achieved high social status and passed different Sufi and ethical stages. In addition to their impact while proper practicing of movements and skills, they learn and transmit this heritage. |
| Type of UNESCO List | Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List | 2010 |
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PI00006066
Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei Rituals
The Ritual of Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei is a collection of rhythmic moving skills, music and dramatic art in a holy place named “Zoorkhane”. In this ritual a group of 10 to 20 men, using tools that symbolically represent the ancient weapons, perform rhythmic and musical, dramatic and ritualistic movements. Zoorkhane, the place for the administration of the Element enjoys a special architecture, a blend of Mithraic temples and Islamic architecture. The major sections of the place include a dome, the arena (Gowd: an octagonal pit, 70cm deep, wherein the rituals are administered and the practitioners stand on specific spots according to age and seniority), the audience seats (overlooking the arena), and “Sardam” wherein the Morshed sits. The Zoorkhane gate is short to encourage bending at the entrance to pay respect toward the holy place.
Iran -
PI00006067
Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei Rituals
The Ritual of Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei is a collection of rhythmic moving skills, music and dramatic art in a holy place named “Zoorkhane”. In this ritual a group of 10 to 20 men, using tools that symbolically represent the ancient weapons, perform rhythmic and musical, dramatic and ritualistic movements. Zoorkhane, the place for the administration of the Element enjoys a special architecture, a blend of Mithraic temples and Islamic architecture. The major sections of the place include a dome, the arena (Gowd: an octagonal pit, 70cm deep, wherein the rituals are administered and the practitioners stand on specific spots according to age and seniority), the audience seats (overlooking the arena), and “Sardam” wherein the Morshed sits. The Zoorkhane gate is short to encourage bending at the entrance to pay respect toward the holy place.
Iran -
PI00006068
Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei Rituals
The Ritual of Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei is a collection of rhythmic moving skills, music and dramatic art in a holy place named “Zoorkhane”. In this ritual a group of 10 to 20 men, using tools that symbolically represent the ancient weapons, perform rhythmic and musical, dramatic and ritualistic movements. Zoorkhane, the place for the administration of the Element enjoys a special architecture, a blend of Mithraic temples and Islamic architecture. The major sections of the place include a dome, the arena (Gowd: an octagonal pit, 70cm deep, wherein the rituals are administered and the practitioners stand on specific spots according to age and seniority), the audience seats (overlooking the arena), and “Sardam” wherein the Morshed sits. The Zoorkhane gate is short to encourage bending at the entrance to pay respect toward the holy place.
Iran -
PI00006069
Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei Rituals
The Ritual of Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei is a collection of rhythmic moving skills, music and dramatic art in a holy place named “Zoorkhane”. In this ritual a group of 10 to 20 men, using tools that symbolically represent the ancient weapons, perform rhythmic and musical, dramatic and ritualistic movements. Zoorkhane, the place for the administration of the Element enjoys a special architecture, a blend of Mithraic temples and Islamic architecture. The major sections of the place include a dome, the arena (Gowd: an octagonal pit, 70cm deep, wherein the rituals are administered and the practitioners stand on specific spots according to age and seniority), the audience seats (overlooking the arena), and “Sardam” wherein the Morshed sits. The Zoorkhane gate is short to encourage bending at the entrance to pay respect toward the holy place.
Iran