CHAYfERTHREE ~ Islamic Gardens in Iran Vaneshdoust When the subject of Islamic gardens is Islam originated in the Arabian Pe- discussed,the question which immedi- ninsula, a land where water and vegeta- ately arises is: "What effect does the tion are as rare as aIchemy. In the Islamic religion have on these gar- Koran, the holy book of the Moslems, dens?". it is written that righteous people are Before the birth of Islam, gardens, promised paradise. Some of the fea- besidesbeing affected by geographical tures of this promised paradise as seen conditions, were influenced by tradi- in the Koran and its commentaries, tion, rit'ual, and the cultural background which have a bearing on our discussion of the people. For exarnple, before Is- and have an effect on gardens, should larn the figure 4 was repre:sentativeof now be mentioned briefiy: the four sa-=red elements, water, 1. ln paradise there flow streams and fire, wind and soil; from the days of the canaIs withgolden banks and beds Sassanids (224-641 A.D;) onwards it of pearls and rubies, tJie soil of was common to divide hunting grounds which bas a smell sweeter than into four sections, in the middle of musk. which a kind of mansion was con- 2. Thereis perpetuaI shade which is structed. As a result, when we observe tamed to move according to the ancient gardens in Iran, or in the terri- will of man. tories which were under Iranian influ- 3. There is no extreme heat from the ence, we notice this quadruple divi- sun or bitter cold. sion, and the older the garden the more 4. There are trees which are so green distinct it is and the more it determines that they appear to be black. the basic lines of the design. As time 5. Mention is made of the names of passedthe division becarne more orna- trees such as the thornless lotus, mental or subordinate in character, so tangled myrtle, palm and pome- that where it still existed the original granate. implication was overlooked, and we 6. There are high buildings unique in can sometimes find gardens in which it the world. does not exist at aIl. There are certain 7. The dimensions of paradise may words in the language which relate to be likened to the width of the sky the idea -like the word "cheharbag" and the earth. meaning "four gardens" -but they have 8. Thereisanextraodinaryabundance completely relinquished their original of unforbidden and perenniaI fruit meaning. which may be freely eaten. 44 Daneshdoust In the later periods of the Islamic age 2. Theareaofthegardenissurrounded the main objective in the designing of by a wall. gardens was to make them as close to 3. There is a main canal in it. this description as possible, and a good 4. The area of the garden is divided garden was always compared with into four. paradise.Many otherpromises aregiven 5. There is a mansion or palace in the concerning the eternal paradise. But it middle. should be noted that. viewed as a gar- 6. Theplanting of rose-bushes is fre- den, paradise is merely an extreme ex- quent. ample, much more desirable than what 7. A close relation with nature is ob- already exists. Gardens in Islamic terri- tained in a simple manner and there tories in later ages were influenced by is no interval or boundary line be- bath the Koran and previous tradition. tween the mansion and the rest of The contents of the Koran had a great the garden, so that it cannot be seen influence even on the people who lived where one begins and the other in fertile and evergreen lands like those ends. of the north of Iran, though this influ- 8. Alargenumberoftreesareplanted ence was, of course, much greater in for the sake of shade,and as a result barren and arid lands. Bu't besides the thegardencontains narrow walks. climatic conditions, which were an es- 9. CanaIs are so designed that the sential factor, tastesand enthusiasmsin flow of the water produces a sound. certain respects aIso had a permanent 10. The design of the garden is based influence. Hence the characteristics on the use of straight lines. acquired by Iranian gardens are the Il. Provision is made for the flow of outcome of a variety of factors. Their the water tQbe visible, and grooves design was influenced nolt only by the are cut in the bot tom of the canaIs descriptions of the promised paradise to cause the water to flow roughly given in the Koran, but also indirectly as if it were flowing over rocks. by the philosophy of Islam and its im- 12. There are a large number of fruit- posed restrictions which affect the life trees; the bigger the garden the of the people and theirway ofthinking. more fruit-trees are planted. Such restrictions are the veiling of If we now go on to discuss gardens women, the problem of prohibited and designed mainly for religious non-prohibited relations between men purposes,we must keep in mind that and women, prohibition of wine-drink- such gardens win of course be greatly ing, and so on. It should be noted that in influenced by religious factors. the past, gardens were usuaIly private Such a garden was laid out during and very seldom were they constructed the time of the Safavid dynasty. This for public purposes. For this reason the garden is unique in two ways: influence not only of the designer's I. It was laid out in a religious pre- personaI character and ideas, but also cinct, and of those of the owner, is cl!early visible. 2. It was a public garden. Nevertheless, there are certain features The gardenis 25 km. from Nishaborr , common to aIl Iranian gardens which and is caned "Qadamgah" ("footing") can be defined as fo11ows: because on the left-hand side, in a 1. A gardenis laid out on :steepground. southem portion of the wall inside the 46 ~ ~ " "1 I 3. The mansion-the entrance to the spring is seen on the right. 48 , c" ,!" ~ Islamic Gardens in Iran mansion, there is a piece ofblack stone b. The general area of the garden: on which two footprints have been This areais laid out onboth sides of the carved. It is believed by the cornrnon axis in a syrnmetrical maner and on people that these footprints belong to each side there are twenty booths for Emam Reza, the eighth successor of the use of caravans of pilgrims. The the Holy Prophet in the Shi-ite sect of trees in this part are mostly mulberry , Islam. The fact is that Emam Reza which, according to the common be- came to this place during his tour of lief, were planted only for charity, so Mashad, and the people carved foot- that everyone was free to eat their fruit. prints on the stone, years later, as a The axial canal continues through this remembrance of bis setting foot in the area, and, after passing between two place. The "Qadamgah" garden is huge plane trees, enters a pool measur- composed of the three sections which ing Il by 8 metres. When this has are described below. filled, it again flows as a narrow canal a. The space surrounding the along the axis. The mulberry trees are mansion: This area is rectangular in planted in three distinct rows. The mid- shapeand measures 102 by 115 metres. dle one, beinga double row .Iines both It is surrounded by w:i1lls.A canal which sidesof the axial canal, providing shade waters the garden enters from behind in accordance with Iranian taste. The the mansion and, after filling a pool other two rows are planted in front of measuring 13 by 16 metres and flowing the pilgrim booths. The booths are con- on through several channels and four structed on two different levels and are smaller pools around the building, takes of two categories. Those of the fIrst its course along the main axis of the category, which are situated on the garden. The large pool is also used as a lower level, are spacious enough to reservoir .AlI the sections of this gar- , lodge pilgrims for a longer period and den are on steepground and it therefore have a fireplace and some recesses in consistsof severaldifferent levels which their walls. Those in the second cat- are connected to another by stairs. egory rather resemble a decorative The mansion, which is decorated arch which could serve for short rests with glazed tiles, "kashi" stands a little and could actually have containedgar- way from the centre of the garden, on den seats. the linear axis. Except for a few apricot One exceptional feature of this part trees, the area is planted only with of the garden is the fact that there is no plane trees and pinf;S.The fruit from the wall or gate at its entrance. apricot trees, after being dried, used to c. The portion between the man- be sent to various people as a token of sion and the general area: The upper blessing. There is a spring beside the part of the general area contains a com- mansion, which is believed by the com- paratively big court yard with no trees. mon people to have gushed forth when This courtyard serves as a forecourt Emam Reza inserted his staff into the where one may stop before entering the spot. Its water is belil~ved to be sacred mansion yard to say prayers or wait for and blessed. The garden in this area is one's turn.