Cognitive Metaphor and Symbolic Mapping in Alisher Navoi’s Khamsa
Keywords:
Alisher Navoi, Khamsa, cognitive metaphorAbstract
This article explores the symbolic architecture of Alisher Navoi’s Khamsa through the lens of cognitive poetics, applying Conceptual Metaphor Theory (Lakoff & Turner) and Conceptual Blending Theory (Fauconnier & Turner). It examines how Navoi encodes ethical and spiritual meanings through layered metaphors, narrative symbolism, and culturally embedded images such as wine, the moth and candle, the mirror, and the mystical journey. These metaphors function as cognitive mappings that link tangible experiences to abstract Sufi ideals. Drawing comparisons with the Persian Khamsa tradition of Nizami Ganjavi, the article highlights Navoi’s original contribution in transforming inherited symbols into complex spiritual allegories. It argues that Navoi’s literary mastery lies in his ability to synthesize narrative tradition with mystical doctrine and cognitive structure, making his Khamsa a deeply philosophical and poetically innovative work within the Timurid cultural renaissance.
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