A Study of the Representation of Folk Beliefs in Naser Khosrow's Safarnama (The Book of Travels)

The folk beliefs and knowledge, as a phenomenon intertwined with society and an inseparable pillar of collective life in the ups and downs of human history, have made a significant contribution to the culture of any nation. In the meantime, folk beliefs are considered, as the place of familiarity and identification of various aspects of public culture. Safarnamas (The Books of Travels) are one of the most important fields of manifestation of these beliefs, which in terms of representing the culture and thought of the people of different societies, are one of the richest sources for the study of culture and popular ideas. In the same direction, Naser Khosrow's Safarnama has a special place due to its scientific accuracy, insight and linguistic abilities. In this research, done with a descriptive-analytical approach and using the library method, the types of public beliefs in Naser Khosrow's Safarnama have been studied based on a new classification. In this classification, popular beliefs are divided into six categories: religious, historical, mythical, wonders, Taboo, and superstitious. The results of the research showed that among the types of popular beliefs, religious beliefs are the most reflected in Naser Khosrow's Safarnama and after that, popular beliefs about wonders are more reflected than other beliefs. Among the types of popular beliefs, the lowest percentage of reflection is attributed to superstitions. These results also revealed the dominance of the intellectual and religious aspects of the character of this theologian sage in the report of his seven-year journey.