Strategic Studies of Culture

Strategic Studies of Culture

The Role of Contemporary Persian Poetry in Safeguarding Iran's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH): A Comparative Study of Nima Yooshij, Sohrab Sepehri, and Ghaisar Aminpour

Document Type : Original Article

Author
mahin khatibnia
Department of Persian language and literature' Isf.c.' Islamic Azad University' Isfahan' Iran. Email: mahin1319@iau.ac.ir
10.22083/scsj.2025.556673.1328
Abstract
Introduction: In the contemporary era, rapid cultural and social change, together with the homogenizing pressures of globalization, poses challenges to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). UNESCO (2003) defines ICH as traditions, rituals, skills, knowledge, and artistic expressions transmitted across generations, providing communities with a sense of identity and continuity. In Iran, ICH is deeply embedded in language, literature, poetry, music, and local rituals and constitutes an important dimension of cultural identity (Kazemi, 2018; Jafari, 2019). Within this context, contemporary Persian poetry can function not only as an aesthetic medium but also as a means of preserving cultural memory and representing cultural values. This study examines how the poetry of Nima Yooshij, Sohrab Sepehri, and Ghaisar Aminpour contributes to the representation and transmission of Iran’s ICH. The primary research question is: How have these poets, through their language and imagery, contributed to preserving collective memory and transmitting cultural and spiritual values to new generations in the context of globalization?
Methods: This research employs a qualitative methodology using interpretive content analysis to identify explicit and implicit representations of ICH in contemporary Persian poetry. The study population consists of the poetic works of Nima Yooshij, Sohrab Sepehri, and Ghaisar Aminpour, selected through purposive sampling based on their significance in the development of modern Persian poetry and their engagement with cultural themes. Specifically, 10-15 representative poems from each poet were selected, including works such as Afsaneh (The Legend) and Qesseh-ye Rang Parideh (The Faded Story) by Nima; Hasht Ketab (The Eight Books) by Sepehri; and Ayeneh-ha-ye Nagahan (Sudden Mirrors) and Dar Kuche-ye Aftab (In the Alley of the Sun) by Aminpour. The unit of analysis was the individual verse or stanza containing explicit or implicit references to ICH components. Data analysis was conducted in three stages: 1) Open Coding: the poems were read closely, and words, symbols, images, and themes related to Iranian culture (e.g., local songs, natural elements, and folk beliefs) were identified and coded; 2) Axial Coding: the initial codes were grouped according to conceptual similarities into broader ICH themes, including ritual, language, belief, and social values; and 3) Strategic Analysis: the identified themes were synthesized to examine how poetic representations contribute to the preservation and transmission of cultural identity.
Findings: The findings indicate that each poet contributed to the representation and transmission of ICH through a distinctive poetic approach. Nima Yooshij incorporated indigenous and vernacular cultural elements, including local lexicon and representations of rural life, into modern Persian poetry. His work thus contributes to the representation and preservation of the collective memory associated with the cultural heritage of northern Iran (Jafari, 2019). Sohrab Sepehri represented elements of Iran’s spiritual and philosophical heritage by intertwining representations of nature with mystical and contemplative thought. In poems such as The Sound of Water’s Footsteps, his poetic imagery connects ritual, spirituality, and nature, contributing to the representation of Iran’s spiritual and environmental heritage (Ghasemi, 2021; Tiwari, 2017). Ghaisar Aminpour strengthened representations of national and cultural identity through the integration of religious, national, and humanistic themes. His use of shared cultural symbols, such as common soil and roots, illustrates the role of poetry in articulating collective belonging and cultural memory (Maleki, 2022; Rahimi, 2021). The axial coding process further identified representations of rituals and festivals, the preservation of endangered or obsolete linguistic forms, and the articulation of collective memory. Overall, the analysis suggests that contemporary Persian poetry functions not merely as an aesthetic form but also as a dynamic cultural medium through which elements of ICH are represented, reinterpreted, and transmitted in the modern context.
Conclusion: The research concludes that contemporary Persian poetry functions as an important medium for representing and transmitting Iran’s intangible cultural heritage. This contribution occurs at three levels: linguistic and local, through Nima Yooshij’s incorporation of local language and rural life; spiritual and philosophical, through Sohrab Sepehri’s engagement with mysticism, spirituality, and nature; and identity and social, through Ghaisar Aminpour’s integration of national and religious themes. Overall, their poetry brings elements of ICH into broader literary discourse and contributes to cultural continuity. The study recommends incorporating selected works into educational curricula and developing interdisciplinary initiatives that connect literature with ICH safeguarding.
Keywords
Contemporary
Intangible Heritage
Poetry
Conservation
Nimayoshij
Sohrab Sepehri
Qaysaraminpour
Subjects
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Strategic Studies of Culture
Volume 6, Issue 3 - Serial Number 23
Summer 2026
Pages 153-177