Manifestation of Shia Doctrines in Architectural Aspects of Qajar Era's Shrines in Western Azerbaijan

Abstract

Besides factors such as geographic condition, climate and culture; religious doctrines and orders also have a direct effect on styles and characteristics of shaping the architecture of each historical era in Iran. Suchimpacts are more obvious in religious monuments especially in cemeterymonuments; so we can claim that religion and architecturehave an accomplished association and they could be considered as inseparable issues. Present study identifies and determines scope of effects resulted by Shia doctrine on architecture and related arts in the Shia shrines of Qajar era in Western Azerbaijan, and is based on Library and field work. Therefore it aims to study the influence of Shia doctrines in architectural characteristics and decoration of monuments in Western Azerbaijan and the relation between Shia doctrine and commandments with art and architecture of monuments in Western Azerbaijan. Results indicate that Shia Muslims consider monuments building, specially shrines, as mosques presenting their doctrine and laws as an obvious act. Generally, Shia religion leaves is most important qualitative and quantitative effects in architecture and decoration of monuments and as it became clear while studying Shia monuments in Western Azerbaijan, these doctrines show their effects in creating these types of buildings and their continuous existence throughout ages, they also manifest themselves in presence of architectural elements and features such as minarets in tomb monuments, using shrines and pulpits and alters inside them, applying religious poems and inscriptions with Shia prayers and content, extreme use of tiling, mirrors and tore and even the size of these buildings.

Keywords

• islamic tombs؛ western azerbaijan
• qajar era
• manifestation doctrines
• shia muslims