Investigating the transformation of motifs in Turkmen carpets (case studied after the victory of the revolution in Yamut and Goglan clans in Golestan province)

Master's Thesis in the field of Islamic Art

Abstract:

The carpet is familiar with the material and spiritual life of Turkmen and is considered to represent the identity and unity of different clans. The motifs in the original Turkmen carpets have a specific and coherent structure, and until recent decades, the Turkmen mother considered herself obliged to comply with it. Awareness of the compatibility of economic phenomena and biological nature, with the motifs of the new style, has been the basic issue of this research. The general purpose of the research is to understand the transformation of Turkmen carpet patterns after the victory of the Islamic revolution and compare it between the Goglan and Yamut clans in Golestan province. The main hypothesis of this research is that after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the spread of awareness and expansion of communication has been effective in transforming the role of the traditional materials of Turkmen handwoven carpets. This research seeks to reveal the function of Turkmen handwovens in socio-economic life with the anthropological method of art and with regard to different socio-biological methods during the two periods before and after the revolution. The working method is based on gathering information based on library studies, participation in the conference, direct interview with open questions (weavers and experts), observation, using visual and audio ethnographic tools. The most important achievements of the research are:

Before the revolution, Turkmen handwovens have a sense of coherence and rational continuity in terms of cultural, social, and economic functions, and they have played a positive role in the household economy and biological-psychological well-being of the weavers, and have been effective in the continuation of the unity of the Turkmen nation. provided that the desired results were not achieved due to the lack of fundamental cultural and anthropological studies.

Keywords:

The role of motifs - Turkmen carpet - traditional style - new style - Gol

Chapter 1

Overview of the research

Introduction:

Turkmens were a group of yellow-skinned nomads in Central Asia, whose history is not easily known due to their special way of living and the characteristics of small (primitive) societies. Therefore, researchers pave the way for a deeper understanding of the culture of these people by paying attention to the geographical, historical, economic, and material culture conditions. Carpet, as one of the manifestations of Turkmen material culture, carries a part of the ethnic experiences resulting from the ups and downs of different clans during its lifetime. The carpet is regarded as the soul and one of the four documents of authenticity and ethnic identity (language, music, carpet, horse) and they are proud of it. In this article, the transformation of the role in Turkmen carpets in the Yamut and Goglan clans (living in Golestan province) after the victory of the Islamic revolution has been investigated from the anthropological point of view of art. From the anthropological point of view, no culture can be imagined without art. Therefore, art anthropologists in studying the art of small communities define art based on special skills, meaningful and creative beauty, which affects communication aspects and public opinion. On this basis, art anthropologists, by discovering the ways of life of a society, understand the specific reasons of artistic production and discover the aesthetic system of a cultural phenomenon. The original Turkmen carpet, by maintaining a specific structure and having its own unique characteristics, has been the preserver of authenticity and ethnic identity until recent decades, and the Turkmen mother used to hand it over to her daughters. Before the victory of the revolution, the hand-woven Turkmen carpet played an effective role in the economy and well-being of the household. and It underwent a transformation. 1-1 statement of the problem: Carpet is intertwined with Turkmen life. The carpet is not only considered the most valuable relic of the Turkmen mother's creative skill, but also a rich source for their anthropological and historical studies due to their special way of life (living based on hunting, gathering, temporary settlements, social-tribal structure, etc.).  In the original Turkmen carpets, we come across an aesthetic source of work and group effort that has gathered over successive generations, and if there is a danger lurking in this precious remnant of the remote and ancient mine, it is the conditions of civilization and exploitation of the current life.Undoubtedly, anthropological studies on a culture, in addition to providing an understanding of the variables that lead to deep and comprehensive knowledge, provide the ground for creating conscious positive developments in various cultural, economic, social and political fields. The present research, especially with an anthropological perspective, examines and analyzes the transformation of the Turkmen carpets of Golestan province (Yamot and Goglan) so that, while expressing the inherent aesthetic characteristics of the Turkmen culture to the social situation of production, The spread and acceptance of the artwork paid attention. It should be noted that the purpose of this research is not to enter into the topic of symbology of motifs, because it requires more extensive contemporary and comparative studies.

The main question of the research is whether the structural changes of Turkmen handwovens during two periods have had an impact on the household economy and the welfare of society? Or have the accidental transformations in patterns been in line with the process of market acceptance?

2-1 Importance and necessity of the research topic:

Turkmen hand-woven carpet, as the best economic activity of women, is the most practical art and the objective crystallization factor of indigenous and authentic people's culture in which the beliefs of different Turkmen clans are manifested. The most important factor for the attention of the Turkmen people to the hand-woven carpet is related to the foundations and high cultural values ??of this "art-craft" because every design and pattern and every color and coloring is a reminder of customs, customs, habits and traditions and in general the local culture and spiritual customs of the society, which must be preserved and protected as a precious door and an exquisite gift, and it is obvious that any negligence and procrastination in this field will have harmful and irreparable effects.

From another point of view, due to the fact that the Turkmens are among the border-dwelling peoples (a group of Yamuts in Turkmenistan and a large group in Iran) and considering the identity-origin status of the carpet for the Turkmens as well as the extensive activities of the country of Turkmenistan in cultural publication and ethnic attractions, studying anthropology (art) while protecting the cultural-political borders will lead to the expansion of cultural borders. 

3-1 research objectives:

- Investigating the transformation of the role in the Turkmen rugs of Yamut and Goglan, after the victory of the revolution (Golestan province)

- Structural analysis of the Turkmen carpet before and after the revolution.

4-1 The theoretical framework of the research:

The current research, the transformation of the role of the rug Examines Turkmen in four chapters. In the first chapter, the generalities of the research are discussed. The second chapter contains a brief study of history in the three periods of the Achaemenid, Mughal, and Pahlavi periods. Other parts of this chapter include geography and its impact on culture, explanation of the social structure and authenticity of the Turkmens, and the introduction of two clans, Yamut and Gogolan. In the third chapter, the anthropological method of art and its definitions of art and beauty in the study of small communities, as well as the structure of the Turkmen carpet and the study of its formal elements, are discussed. The fourth chapter, dedicated to the analysis of old and new carpet patterns, has results and suggestions. 5-1 Research method: This research is fundamental-applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive from the point of view of the research method. Yamot (Bander Turkman and Agh Qola cities) and Goglan (Gonbad Kavos city) have been implemented. Interviews were conducted with the majority of experts active in the private-government sector and carpet activists. 1-8 Data collection tools: 1-9 The work method is based on gathering information based on library studies, participation in the conference, direct interviews with open questions (weavers and experts), observation, using visual and audio ethnographic tools. 9-1 Limitation Research problems: Lack of familiarity with the Turkmen language - Stereotyped reference of existing books from a few specific sources - Lack and absence of reliable information - Conducting basic research and the dimension of distance - Difficulty accessing new Latin sources (international sanctions) They consider the horse as its wings.[1] The carpet is intertwined with the material and spiritual life of Turkmen. The child sleeps in a cradle with a pattern woven on it that repels sore eyes and grows up in a house decorated with the heirlooms of its mothers.