The Relationship Between Zoroastrianism and Kingship in the Iranian Empire

Research Article
Open access

The Relationship Between Zoroastrianism and Kingship in the Iranian Empire

Yangyin Zeng 1*
  • 1 Basis International School Hangzhou, Hangzhou, 310000, China    
  • *corresponding author guob@techpool.com.cn
CHR Vol.4
ISSN (Print): 2753-7072
ISSN (Online): 2753-7064
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-31-7
ISBN (Online): 978-1-915371-32-4

Abstract

This essay discusses the relationship between Zoroastrianism and kingship through the primary source of Shahnameh, the epic of the Persian Kings, written by Abolqasem Ferdowsi. Shahnameh is a crystal of Iranian culture, it is a complete religious doctrine following the guidance of Zoroastrianism, it teaches the practice of threefold paths to Asha with the idea of spreading goodness into the society. They include personal religion, social life, and individual morality. Furthermore, the study connects the religious concept of the threefold paths to Asha and khvarenah, a mysterious concept in Iran myth that symbolize the bless from heaven and God, to the actual examples of the engagement of kingship.[ Zhibin, H, Zhibin, X. (2019) The Trajectory of Zoroastrianism in Iran. Journal of World Religion and Culture, 6: 58-64.] The paper introduces and corresponds the example of Jamshid, a Shah in the mysterious age of the Iranian empire, to the practice of Zoroastrianism. Finally, the paper concludes that in the Sassanid dynasty of Iran empire, the king in the world was decided by the heaven.[ Boyce, M. (2000) Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, London.] The heaven blesses and protects those who were destined to be the king in all aspects. This is the myth of the divine right of kingship propagated by the rulers to maintain their power and status. However, although the kingship is shrouded in mystery, humans on earth eventually decide the kindship.[ Kantorowicz, E. (2016) The King’s Two Bodies. Princeton University Press, Princeton.]

Keywords:

Sassanid empire, Zoroastrianism, Iran, Shahnameh

Zeng,Y. (2023). The Relationship Between Zoroastrianism and Kingship in the Iranian Empire. Communications in Humanities Research,4,114-118.
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References

[1]. Zhibin, H, Zhibin, X. (2019) The Trajectory of Zoroastrianism in Iran. Journal of World Religion and Culture, 6: 58-64.

[2]. Boyce, M. (2000) Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, London.

[3]. Kantorowicz, E. (2016) The King’s Two Bodies. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

[4]. Jiahong, W. (2012) The Search for Zoroastrian in Iran. Portrait, 2: 83-87.

[5]. Ferdowsi, A. (2006) Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings. Translated by Davis, D. Viking Press, New York City.

[6]. S. Behnaz Hosseini. "Chapter 3 Yārsāni Religious Practice and Identity", Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2020.

[7]. Foundation, Encyclopaedia Iranica. “Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica.” RSS. Accessed August 31, 2022. https://iranicaonline.org/articles/humata-huxta-huvarsta.

Cite this article

Zeng,Y. (2023). The Relationship Between Zoroastrianism and Kingship in the Iranian Empire. Communications in Humanities Research,4,114-118.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies (ICIHCS 2022), Part 2

ISBN：978-1-915371-31-7(Print) / 978-1-915371-32-4(Online)
Editor：Faraz Ali Bughio, David T. Mitchell
Conference website: https://www.icihcs.org/
Conference date: 18 December 2022
Series: Communications in Humanities Research
Volume number: Vol.4
ISSN：2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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References

[1]. Zhibin, H, Zhibin, X. (2019) The Trajectory of Zoroastrianism in Iran. Journal of World Religion and Culture, 6: 58-64.

[2]. Boyce, M. (2000) Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, London.

[3]. Kantorowicz, E. (2016) The King’s Two Bodies. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

[4]. Jiahong, W. (2012) The Search for Zoroastrian in Iran. Portrait, 2: 83-87.

[5]. Ferdowsi, A. (2006) Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings. Translated by Davis, D. Viking Press, New York City.

[6]. S. Behnaz Hosseini. "Chapter 3 Yārsāni Religious Practice and Identity", Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2020.

[7]. Foundation, Encyclopaedia Iranica. “Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica.” RSS. Accessed August 31, 2022. https://iranicaonline.org/articles/humata-huxta-huvarsta.

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