Excellence in Iranian Architecture by Relying on the Transcendent Theosophy (Al-hikmat al-muta’āliyah)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate in Architecture, Department of Architecture, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Research Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran Institute of Philosophical Studies, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Problem statement: It seems that one of the main problems of Iranian architecture today is the inability to express the concepts of Iranian architecture, and what is meant by Iranian architecture, the Architecture relies on and emerges from Iranian-Islamic theosophy , which, in this research, is its unique example, that is, Transcendent theosophy.  Since the recent studies related to the wisdom of Iranian architecture have only been without understanding the deep foundations and spiritual concepts hidden in it, so far the body and forms of Iranian architecture have been given more attention, which is insufficient to preserve the values of Iranianarchitecture. Meanwhile, the relationship between opinion and practice from the perspective of looking at the foundations of Mulla sadra to find and understand these concepts is the problem of this research. That is, how can the influence of Sadra’s ideas play a role in creating a transcendent works?
Research objective: The aim of the present study is to explain the reasons of excellence in Iranian architecture by relying on the opinions and theoretical principles of Transcendent theosophy. In the meantime, the connection of intellectual elements from the field of Transcendent theosophy to art, and especially, the architectural work that helps to recognize the authenticity of Iranian art, will be highlighted.
Research method: The present article is of the fundamental-theoretical research type. In short, it can be said that the strategy of this study is logical reasoning. Its data is mainly obtained through observation and archival studies. Appropriate and relevant solutions have been collected and compiled through information analysis. This research has been done in terms of structuralism, focusing on the influence of philosophical thinking in architecture. Data analysis is also done according to the qualitative analysis method.
Conclusion: It can be said that the missing link in contemporary architecture is the connection between art and the field of the basics of Iranian theosophy, which can lead us to understand the concept of truth. According to the results of the findings, it can be stated that the difference between the present research and the previous researches is the use of three principles: the primacy of existence and the principle of grades of existence and  “substantial motion”(al-harakat al-jawhariyyah)in Iranian architecture and discovering the union between the foundations of transcendent theosophy and Iranian architecture.The results of the present study, based on Mulla Sadra’s opinions, indicate that architecture includes two dimensions of existence and nature.  Nature dimension responding to material needs and its existence dimension is the truth that is hidden in the architectural works themselves. According to the principle of primacy of existence of Mullah Sadra, it can be acknowledged that in architecture, originality will have an existential dimension, and the principle of substantial motion leads to excellence from material to meaning based on spiritual foundations in the form of mysteries.Therefore, using the intellectual foundations of MullaSadra, principles to achieve excellence can be achieved in contemporary Iranian architecture.

Keywords

References

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The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar
Volume 20, Issue 129
March 2024
Pages 45-56

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