Quarterly Scientific-Research Goljaam

An influencing idea finally develops and gain fame, if not in its own time, certainly in a short period of history. Likewise Suhrawardi's philosophy, within less than a century, has had such an influence in various areas of philosophy, literature, art, culture, etc. in Islamic world especially Iran. "The mediatory world" (Ālam-e Methāl) and "the eighth territory" (Eqlīm-e Hashtum) is the very point of intellectual strength in Suhawardi's philosophy which has made it influential. Suhrawardi's mediatory world (a subtle mediator between spiritual and material worlds) and its cities can be considered in associate with the mythical city of Kang Dej to help us in finding out how symbols, in the sacred art of carpet-weaving, are in a way related to this mediatory world. But, why rug? Simply because no other art like carpet weaving has kept its ancient motifs till now without losing its popularity. Although rug is used to cover a ground but it represents a celestial earth, and makes a place sacred, as it is subject of traditional science of sacred geography. The symbols which are in common between the mediatory world, structure of a traditional house and rug have the same spiritual concepts for traditional human. Toranjs (medallion) and Shamsas (roundel) as symbols of rugs are representation of sun and ultimately remind us of the metaphysical notion of center. Lachaks (ecoincon) are entrance gates, hashiyas (border) are fort of the spiritual city, and guls (flower) and buttas (arabesque) and all other symbols have their own role in representation of this subtle city. In this paper we will see how philosophical and mythological point of view can assist one to interpret rugs. Whatever man makes shows his approach to the reality and determines his intellectual power and social circumstances under which he has grown. Kang Dej is an Iranian vision of "the ideal city" and refers to the state of paradise in traditional ideas. Kang belongs to mediatory (or subtle) realm of existence; the tradition, representing it on earth and material realm, illuminates a sacred place in urban planning, architecture, and art. One of these illuminated forms is the art of carpet weaving along with its motifs and symbols.