Journal of Fine Arts: Visual Arts

Journal of Fine Arts: Visual Arts

Analysis of the design and legibility of the Kufic inscriptions of Hawqalah (La Hawl) in the 10th to 13th centuries AH

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Master in Arts in Islamic Art (Iranian Painting), Department of Islamic Art, Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Iran University of Art, Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Museum Studies, Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Iran University of Art, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Banna’i, also known as Square Kufic or Ma’qili, is a form of Islamic calligraphy used in the inscriptions of religious places, which have been implemented with different designs and dimensions. The earliest surviving example observed so far of the Banna’i Script is the wooden window of the tomb of one of the Imamzadehs (Shrines) in Iran dated 363 A.H. However, the Kufi script evolved in the 5th and 6th centuries A.H due to the flourishing of bricklaying and tile-making, and during the era of Ilkhani, Timurid and Safavid eras, it experienced its peak of prosperity and its use in decorating religious monuments can still be seen today. Although the majority of researchers believe that the Banna’i Script is seen in architectural decorations, including the inscriptions on the internal and external surfaces of religious buildings and is rarely seen in manuscripts, many examples of the squared (Banna’i or Ma’qili) script arranged in decorative patterns on paper, have been seen in the manuscripts of the Timurid, Safavid and especially Ottoman period. In a way, the harmony of this script with the form of brick has made it one of the frequent arrays in the decorations of holy architectural buildings, which always reminds of divine themes and remembrances. The design of Banna’i inscriptions has patterns and rules that are used for proper visual structure and readability. However, studies on the principles of designing Banna’i inscriptions remain limited and scattered. The famous phrase "Wa La Hawl" or "Hawqalah" is also one of the motifs of Banna’i inscriptions; for which various definitions and applications have been mentioned in different sources. Various designs of " Hawqalah" masonry inscriptions from the 10th century A.H can be seen in the existing examples of the architectural decorations of Iranian buildings. By examining the " Hawqalah" architectural inscriptions during the aforementioned period, six cases belonging to the Isfahan region were identified as existing and studyable examples. They were observed in the Hakim Mosque, the Jame Mosque, the Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) School, the Nim Avard School, and the Sayyid Mosque. However, it seems that in some cases, including examples designed in the present era, these rules are not properly followed and the letters of the alphabet and Banna’i inscriptions are drawn incorrectly and with an incorrect pattern. One reason could be the lack of certain patterns and principles for the design of Kufic script and related inscriptions. The aim of this research is to analyze the rules and methods of designing "Hawqalah" architectural inscriptions and understand how they are networked in the form of Banna’i Calligraphy, so that by achieving a correct and practical pattern, designs appropriate for religious buildings can be recreated based on previous patterns. The research method in the study is descriptive with an analytical approach, and in terms of its objective, it is fundamental. Information was collected through library and field observation and the results were presented qualitatively. Different stages of analysis and design have been conducted using "Corel Draw" design software. In this process, while identifying historical examples of this inscription in architectural decorations; Its design patterns were examined and the networks used in their types were analyzed, and based on the principles of beauty and readability, in addition to criticizing some of the modern examples, several cases were presented. The analysis focuses particularly on the relationship between geometric structure, visual balance, legibility, and the functional requirements of inscriptions within architectural contexts and their adaptation to historical architectural surfaces and contemporary restoration practices. The findings show that the design of the "Hawqalah" architectural inscriptions is based on three types of geometric grids with line angles of 90, 45 and 50 degrees and observing the space of literacy and bayaz. By examining the ratio of literacy to bayaz in the samples, it was determined that in most of them, the literacy and bayaz units have the same dimensions, which has led to visual order. However, in the example of "Sayyid Mosque", the units, especially in the bayaz section, have been reduced to smaller scales, namely half a unit or a quarter of a unit; which has led to diversity in design, accuracy in composition and adaptation to the infrastructure. Also, in this study, four general layouts for designing "Hawqalah" in the form of a building line were identified. This process can be used in the restoration of architectural decorations of historical sites or the implementation of new and proposed inscriptions in contemporary buildings, by obtaining patterns for arranging the words of this phrase in a design that is both accurate and beautiful. The completeness of the selected phrase and the perfection of the alphabet in the text, as well as the modularity of the drawing, were considered by historical designers, and this issue should also be considered in the restoration of inscriptions and new architectural designs.
Keywords
Subjects

- Al-Naht. (1952). Sculpture ]Al-Naht.[ Majma’ al-Lughah al-'Arabiyyah bi-l-Qahirah, (7), 201–204. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/497964/ (in persian)
- Carter, D. E. (1999). Working with type exhibitions. Roto Vision SA.
- Faza’eli, H. (1971). Calligraphy Atlas] Atlas-e khat[. Anjoman Asar Melli Esfahan. (in persian)
- Ghazali Tusi, A. M. (1954). The Alchemy of Happiness (Vol. 2; A. Aram, Ed.) ]Kimiya-ye Sa’adat[. Ketabkhaneh va Chapkhaneh Markazi. (in persian)
- Hamiri, N. B. S. (1998). Shams al-Uloom and medicine of Kalam al-Arab man al-Kloom (Vol. 3) ]Shams al-‘Ulum wa Dawa’ Kalam al-'Arab min al-'Ulum[. Dar al-Fikr. (in persian)
- Honarfar, L. (1971). Treasury of Historical Monuments of Isfahan ]Ganjineh-ye Asar-e Tarikhi-ye Esfahan[. Saghafi. (in persian)
- Jowhari-Farabi, I. B. H. (1985). Al-Sihah in Language and Sciences ]Al-Sihah fi al-Lughah wa al-'Ulum[. Dar al-'Ilm lil-Malayeen. (in persian)
- Keshavarzi-Miandashti, H. R. (2019). Banna’i Script: Definition, Division, Teaching, Analysis. ]Khat-e Bana’i: Ta’rif, Taghseem, Ta’lim, Tahlil.[ Arma. (in persian)
- Keshavarzi-Miandashti, H. R., & Feizabi, B. (2017). Typology of the Banna’i (ma’qili) Script Based on Design Method and Execution Techniques ]Guneh-Shenasi-ye Khat-e Bana’i (Mu’aqqali), bar asase shive-ye tarrahi va ravesh-haye ejraei[. Iranian Journal of Handicrafts, 1(1), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.22052/hsi.2017.111644 (in persian)
- Mahir al-Naqsh, M. (1991). Banna’i Script ]Khat-e Bana’i[. Sorush. (in persian)
- Mahir al-Naqsh, M. (1982). Tilework of Iran ]Kashi-kari-ye Iran[. Muzeh-ye Reza Abbasi. (in persian)
- Mayel-Heravi, N. (1993). Book Illumination in Islamic Civilization ]Ketab-Ara’i dar Tamaddon-e Eslami[ . Astan Quds Razavi. (in persian)
- Moeini, M. (2014). Under the Hawqala/ Hawqala ]Zeyl-e Hoqleh / Hoqleh [. In Daneshnameh-ye Jahan-e Eslam (Vol. 14, pp. 459-460). https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1699361/ (in persian)
- Monshi-Qomi, Q. A. (2004). The Garden of Art (A. Soheili-Khansari, Ed.) ]Golestan-e Honar[. Manouchehri. (in persian)
- Necipoglu, G. (2010). Geometry and Decoration in Islamic Architecture (M. Qeyoumi-Bidhendi, Trans.) ]Hendeseh va Taz’in dar Me’mari-ye Eslami[. Roozaneh. (in persian)
- Qusheyri, A. B. H. (1995). Risaleh-ye Qusheyriyeh (A. A. B. Othman, Trans.; B. Forouzanfar, Ed.) ]Resaleh-ye Qusheriyeh[. Elmi va Farhangi. (in persian)
- Qubadiani, N. (1969). Vajh-al-Din (G. R. A’vani, Ed.) ]Vajh al-Din[. Ketabkhaneh Tahoori. (in persian)
- Quchani, A. (2001). The Manifestation of Ali (AS) in Kufic Banna’i Script: The Ma’qili (Banna’i) Style ]Tajalli 'Ali (a.s.) bar Khat-e Kufi-ye Bana’i, Khat-e Bana’i (Mu’aqqali)[. Ketab-e Mah-e Honar. Vihe Imam Ali dar Honar-e Ammeh, (31-32), 90–91. http://noo.rs/EVdEO (in persian)
- Quchani, A. (1985). Ma’qili Kufic Script in Ancient Mosques of Isfahan ]Khat-e Kufi-ye Mu’aqqali dar Masajed-e Bastani-ye Esfahan[. Bonyad-e Andisheh-ye Eslami. (in persian)
- Sajjadi, A. (1996). Evolution of the Mihrab in Islamic Architecture of Iran from the Beginning to the Mongol Invasion ]Sir-e Tahavvol-e Mehrab dar Me’mari-ye Eslami-ye Iran az Aghaz ta Hedlye Moghol[. Sazman-e Mirath-e Farhangi-ye Keshvar. (in persian)
- Sanai, M. B. A. (1995). The Garden of Truth and the Law of the Way (M. T. Modarres Razavi, Ed.) ]Hadiqat al-haqiqa wa Shari’at al-tariqa[. Daneshgah-e Tehran. (in persian)
- Serrell, B. (2015). Exhibit labels: An interpretive approach. Rowman & Littlefield.
- Suzani-Samarqandi, M. B. A. (1959). Collection of Poems (N. Shah-Hosseini, Ed.) ]Divan-e Ash’ar[. Amirkabir. (in persian)
- Zomorshidi, H. (2005). Tilework of Iran: Ma’qili Script (Vol. 3) ]Kashi-kari-ye Iran: Khat-e Mu’aqqali[. Sazman-e Omran va Behsazi-ye Shahri. (in persian)
 
منابع
ـ النحت. (1331). مجمع­اللغه العربیه بالقاهره. (7)، 201- 204. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/497964/
ـ جوهری ­فارابی، اسماعیل­بن حماد. (1407ه.ق). الصحاح فی­اللغه والعلوم. دارالعلم للملایین.
ـ حمیری، نشوان­بن سعید. (1420 ه.ق). شمس­العلوم ودواء کلام­ العرب من ­الکلوم (المجلد الثالث). دارالفکر.
ـ زمرشیدی، حسین. (1384). کاشی­کاری ایران: خط معقلی (جلد سوم). سازمان عمران و بهسازی شهری.
ـ سجادی، علی. (1375). سیر تحول محراب در معماری اسلامی ایران از آغاز تا حمله­ مغول. سازمان میراث فرهنگی کشور.
ـ سنایی، مجدود­بن آدم. (1374). حدیقه­الحقیقه و شریعه­الطریقه (محمدتقی مدرس رضوی، مصحح). دانشگاه تهران.
ـ سوزنی­ سمرقندی، محمد‌بن علی. (1338). دیوان اشعار (ناصرالدین شاه‌حسینی، مصحح). امیرکبیر.
ـ غزالی ­طوسی، ابوحامد­محمد. (1333). کیمیای سعادت (احمد آرام، مصحح؛ جلد دوم). کتابخانه و چاپخانه­ مرکزی.
ـ فضائلی، حبیب­الله. (1350).  اطلس خط. انجمن آثار ملی اصفهان.
ـ قبادیانی، ناصرخسرو. (1348). وجه­الدین (غلام‌رضا اعوانی، مصحح). کتابخانه­ طهوری.
ـ قشیری، عبدالکریم­بن هوازن. (1374). رساله­ قشیریه (ابوعلی احمدبن عثمانی، مترجم؛ بدیع­الزمان فروزانفر، مصحح). علمی و فرهنگی.
ـ قوچانی، عبدالله. (1380). تجلی علی (ع) بر خط کوفی بنایی، خط بنایی (معقلی)، کتاب ماه هنر. ویژه امام علی در هنر عامه (32- 31). 90-91. http://noo.rs/EVdEO
ـ قوچانی، عبدالله. (1364). خط کوفی معقلی در مساجد باستانی اصفهان. بنیاد اندیشه­ اسلامی.
ـ کشاورزی­ میاندشتی، حمیدرضا. (1398). خط بنایی (تعریف، تقسیم، تعلیم، تحلیل). آرما.
ـ کشاورزی ‌میاندشتی، حمیدرضا و فیزابی، بهمن. (1396). گونه­شناسی خط بنایی (معقلی)، بر اساس شیوه­ طراحی و روش­های اجرایی. هنرهای صناعی ایران. 1 (1). 47– 62. https://doi.org/10.22052/hsi.2017.111644
ـ ماهرالنقش، محمود. (1370). خط بنایی. سروش.
ـ ماهرالنقش، محمود. (1361). کاشی­کاری ایران. موزه­ رضا عباسی.
ـ مایل ­هروی، نجیب. (1372).  کتاب­آرایی در تمدن اسلامی. آستان قدس رضوی.
ـ معینی، محسن. (1393). ذیل حوقله/حوقله. دانشنامه جهان اسلام (جلد 14). 459- 460. https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1699361/
ـ منشی قمی، قاضی احمد. (1383). گلستان هنر (احمد سهیلی خوانساری، مصحح). منوچهری.
ـ نجیب ­اوغلو، گل­رو. (1389). هندسه و تزیین در معماری اسلامی (مهرداد قیومی ­بیدهندی، مترجم). روزنه. (چاپ اصلی اثر 1996)
ـ هنرفر، لطف­الله. (1350).  گنجینه­ آثار تاریخی اصفهان. ثقفی.