Explaining the Principles, Goals, and Methods of Epical Training in Shahnameh of Firdausi (For the Formal Education System)

This research is mainly intended to explain the principles, goals, and methods of epical training in Shahnameh of Firdausi (for the formal education system). This applied research follows a qualitative method whose data collection is analytical and inferential. The research population includes Shahnameh of Firdausi and related works. The findings of this study indicated that in Hakim Abolghasem Firdausi’s view, epical training can be defined as a combination of courage and fighting through rationality and morality which replaces self-love with love of homeland and love of others. This definition implies that according to Firdausi, the principles of epical training can be summarized in the following statements: "The epical man is steadfast in difficult situations"; "Jihad is the basis of epical training"; "the role of the leader in the process of epical training is quite obvious"; and "an epical person always remembers God." The goal of epical training involves primarily paying attention to righteousness and God’s satisfaction, and then, we can name justice and fighting oppression, courage, and rationality. Accordingly, the principles of epical training contain self-respect, self-sacrifice, guidance and leadership, and God-orientation. Finally, epical training techniques involve hard work, care for others, modeling, and trust in God.