Nizami Ganjavi, legendary 12th-century Azerbaijani poet
By Choe Chong-dae
My interest in the Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209) derives from ancient Azerbaijani artifacts such as glassware, ornaments, beads and pottery produced in the fifth century. They were discovered in 2011 at the site of the ancient city of Gabala in Azerbaijan, the ancient capital of Caucasian Albania for eight centuries, which is located in the territories of Selbir and Gala. These unique relics are very similar to antiquities unearthed in Gyeongju, Korea, from the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.).
The precious artifacts demonstrate that ancient Azerbaijan engaged in cultural contact with Silla via the ancient Silk Road. A sister-city partnership between the cities of Gyeongju and Gabala was established in 2015, aimed to reestablish and promote cultural relations between the two countries, initially linked by the trade route connecting East Asia with Central Asia.
I associate Azerbaijan with Nizami Gajavi, the legendary Azerbaijani poet, philosopher and literary figure. To commemorate the 880th anniversary of the birth of Nizami, the Azerbaijani government declared 2021 the “Year of Nizami Ganjavi.” He is immortalized in world literature.
The romantic environment of Ganja, where Nizami grew up and lived his life, inspired him to create literary classics and contribute to the development of science and philosophy. Ganja was the largest city of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, as well as a significant hub of science, education and culture of the Middle East in his time. His reputation as a prominent poet and writer grew not only in the wider Middle East, but also in more distant countries. His poetry, in short forms such as the “gasida,” “gazal” and “rubai,” was compiled in an important anthology.
Nizami is best known for five long narrative poems: “Treasury of Secrets” (1175), “Khosrow and Shirin” (1180), Leyli and Majnun” (1188), “Seven Beauties” (1197) and “Iskander-Nameh (1203).” The five epic poems known as the “Khamsa” or “Quintet (Five Jewels),” written as a unique metaphor, have inscribed his name forever in the annals of the arts.
His creative synthesis of progressive humanist thought, with distinctive poetic creations and universal themes, transcended national boundaries to influence world literature. The powerful and colorful humanistic endeavor to create a cultural environment defined both by mysticism and the prejudices of patriarchal feudalism is portrayed in his poetic works.
His passionate philosophical depiction of humanity is illustrated in “Khosrow and Shirin” and “Leyla and Majnun,” two tragic romances that are culturally comparable to Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet.” In fact, Giacomo Puccini's last opera, “Turandot,” is the story of a Slavonic princess found in a Nizami poem.
In the 16th century, a number of medieval artists took part in the writing of five poems modeled after Nizami, for the illuminated manuscript known as the “Khamsah of Nizami.” It was as if they were fascinated by his fame. Therefore, his unique creations were widely imitated for centuries by poets and writers writing in Persian, as well as in languages deeply influenced by Persian, such as Urdu and Ottoman Turkish.
Although certain academic circles claim that Nizami was an Iranian poet, there is convincing evidence to place the poet within Azerbaijani history.
Nizami is appreciated not only in the East but also in the West. He was admired by Goethe, who said of him, “Among the fourteen poets of the East, seven are the best known. Among them, the most famous is Nizami.” Nizami's literary works ought to become better known in Korea.
Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.