# Kishvari

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{{good article}}
{{Short description|15th- and 16th-century Azerbaijani poet}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
| name         = Kishvari
| image        =
| imagesize    =
| caption      =
| birth_name   = Nematullah Kishvari
| birth_date   =
| birth_place  = [Salmas](/source/Salmas), [Aq Qoyunlu](/source/Aq_Qoyunlu)
| death_date   =
| death_place  = [Tabriz](/source/Tabriz), [Safavid Iran](/source/Safavid_Iran)
| occupation   = Poet
| language     = {{cslist|[Azerbaijani](/source/Azerbaijani_language)|[Persian](/source/Persian_language)}}
| notableworks = {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|Kişvarī Dīvānı}}
}}
'''Nematullah Kishvari'''{{efn|Also spelled as "Nimetullah Kishveri".{{sfnm|Demirci|2010a|1p=104|Kasımlı|2007|2p=131}}}} ({{langx|az|Nemətulla Kişvəri}}, {{lang|az-Arab|نعمت‌الله کشوری}}) was a 15th- and 16th-century poet. He is considered one of the leading poets of [Azerbaijani literature](/source/Azerbaijani_literature) during that time and his poems played a significant role in the development of the Azerbaijani literary language.

Born in [Salmas](/source/Salmas) in modern-day [Iran](/source/Iran), little is known about Kishvari's life. He spent a part of it in the palace of [Aq Qoyunlu](/source/Aq_Qoyunlu) ruler [Yaqub Beg](/source/Yaqub_Aq_Qoyunlu) in [Tabriz](/source/Tabriz), where he was in the company of other prominent poets. However, he left the palace when he was repeatedly asked to write eulogies for Yaqub Beg and moved to [Samarkand](/source/Samarkand) to live with [Timurid](/source/Timurid_Empire) poet [Ali-Shir Nava'i](/source/Ali-Shir_Nava'i), whom he referred to as his master in his poems. After Yaqub Beg's death in 1490, he returned to Tabriz but faced financial difficulties. In his last years, he dedicated eulogies to [Ismail I](/source/Ismail_I) of the [Safavid dynasty](/source/Safavid_dynasty) of [Iran](/source/Safavid_Iran) and died in Tabriz a few years after his return.

Kishvari's only surviving work is a {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|dīvān}} (a collection of poems) written mostly in Azerbaijani, with some [Persian](/source/Persian_language) poems included. His poetry is primarily about love and was heavily influenced by Ali-Shir Nava'i and the 14th- and 15th-century Azerbaijani poet [Nasimi](/source/Imadaddin_Nasimi).

== Biography ==
[[File:129OttomanSafavid1502-1590.gif|thumb|Map of [Azerbaijan](/source/Azerbaijan_(Iran)) (south of [Araks](/source/Aras_(river))) and surrounding region, 16th century]]
Not much is known about the life of Kishvari, including his exact birth date.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=104}} The majority of information about him is derived from his poetry.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=106}} Born in Dilmagan (now [Salmas](/source/Salmas)) in modern-day [Iran](/source/Iran),{{sfnm|Demirci|2010a|1pp=104-5|Eyvazova|1983|2pp=7-8}} his poems suggest that he likely lived during the latter part of the 15th century and the early part of the 16th century.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=108}} His given name was "Nematullah", and his surname, as well as the name he used in his poems, was "Kishvari".{{sfn|Bayramova|2020|p=135}} Kishvari's poetry was first brought to light by the Turkish literary historian {{ill|İsmail Hikmet Ertaylan|tr|İsmail Hikmet Ertaylan}} in 1928.{{sfn|Ay Say|2022}} In 1946, his only known work, a {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|[dīvān](/source/Diwan_(poetry))}} (a collection of poems), was discovered.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|pp=104-105}}

At some point of his life, Kishvari relocated to Tabriz. There, he resided in the palace of [Yaqub Beg](/source/Yaqub_Aq_Qoyunlu) ({{reign|1478|1490}}) of the [Aq Qoyunlu](/source/Aq_Qoyunlu), where he lived alongside other Azerbaijani poets such as {{ill|Ahmadi Tabrizi|az|Əhmədi Təbrizi}}, {{ill|Khatai Tabrizi|az|Xətai Təbrizi}}, and [Habibi](/source/Habibi_(poet)),{{sfnm|Kasımlı|2007|1p=131|Yörür|2015}} with whom he was friends.{{sfn|Eyvazova|1983|p=11}} However, he left the palace after being compelled to continuously compose {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|[qaṣīdahs](/source/qasida)}} (eulogies) for Yaqub Beg and relocated to [Samarkand](/source/Samarkand) to live with [Ali-Shir Nava'i](/source/Ali-Shir_Nava'i), a [Timurid](/source/Timurid_Empire) poet, whom he referred to as his master in his poems. After Yaqub Beg's death in 1490, Kishvari returned to Tabriz because of his old age and the difficulties of living abroad. His poems reveal that he experienced financial hardships after his return and expressed a longing for the "old days".{{sfnm|Kasımlı|2007|1p=131|Yörür|2015}} His final years coincided with the reign of [Ismail I](/source/Ismail_I) ({{reign|1501|1524}}), the founder of the [Safavid dynasty](/source/Safavid_dynasty) of [Iran](/source/Safavid_Iran). The poet dedicated one {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|[ghazal](/source/ghazal)}} (a form of amatory poem) and one {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|[rübā'ī](/source/ruba'i)}} (a four-line poem) to Ismail I.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=107}} He died in Tabriz a few years later, although the exact year of his death remains unknown.{{sfnm|Kasımlı|2007|1p=131|Yörür|2015}}

== Poetry ==
{{multiple image
 | width = 200
 | direction = vertical
 | image1 = Manuscript of Kishvari's divan.png
 | alt1 = Two white pages with Arabic-script Azerbaijani text on it
 | image2 = Manuscript of Kishvari's divan 2.png
 | alt2 = Two white pages with Arabic-script Azerbaijani text on it
 | image3 = Manuscript of Kishvari's divan 3.png
 | alt3 = Two white pages with Arabic-script Azerbaijani text on it
 | footer = Manuscripts of the {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|Kişvarī Dīvānı}}
}}
The only known work of Kishvari is a {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|dīvān}}, titled {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|Kişvarī Dīvānı}} ({{lit|{{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|dīvān}} of Kishvari}}).{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=108}} Primarily written in [Azerbaijani](/source/Azerbaijani_language), this work also includes some [Persian](/source/Persian_language) poems{{sfnm|Eyvazova|1983|1p=130|Kasımlı|2007|2p=131|Yörür|2015}} and features a variety of poetic forms, such as 799 {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|ghazals}}, 42 {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|rübā'īs}}, three {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|{{ill|tarjī'bands|tr|Terciibent}}}} (poems with repeating verses), and several {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|[qiṭ'ahs](/source/qit'a)}} (a form of [monorhyme](/source/monorhyme) poetry).{{sfn|Ay Say|2022}} In the work, Kishvari often creates new vocabulary by adding Turkic suffixes to Persian or [Arabic](/source/Arabic) words, or by appending Persian suffixes to Turkic words.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=112}} Many of his poems praise the officials and their families in the countries where the poet resided, including Yaqub Beg, his mother Selçuk Şah Begüm, cousins of Yaqub Beg, and the Safavid king Ismail I.{{sfn|Ay Say|2022}} The main theme of his poetry is love, with a few mystical poems included.{{sfn|Kasımlı|2007|p=131}} Love and the beauty of nature are also the focus of his {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|ghazals}}.{{sfn|Ay Say|2022}} Six copies of the {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|dīvān}} are known to exist and are located in [Bursa](/source/Bursa) and [Istanbul](/source/Istanbul) (Turkey), [Baku](/source/Baku) (Azerbaijan), Samarkand and [Tashkent](/source/Tashkent) (Uzbekistan), and [Tehran](/source/Tehran) (Iran).{{sfnm|Ay Say|2022|Demirci|2010a|2p=108}} The Bursa and Tehran copies were first researched by Jale Demirci, a scholar of Turkic literature, in 1994.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=108}} The Baku copy, which dates back to 1690, is almost identical to the Tashkent and Samarkand copies. Demirci concluded that this is because the Tashkent and Samarkand copies were made from the Baku copy.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=109}} Ümran Ay Say, a scholar of [Turkish literature](/source/Turkish_literature), states that the {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|dīvān}} does not follow the prescribed order of verse forms, but it does follow the alphabetical order in its {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|ghazals}}.{{sfn|Ay Say|2022}} The primary poetic form in the {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|dīvān}} is the [bayt](/source/Bayt_(poetry)) (a [line](/source/Line_(poetry)) divided into two [hemistich](/source/hemistich)s of equal length, each containing between 16 and 32 syllables); the main poetic genre, on the other hand, is the {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|ghazal}}.{{sfn|Bayramova|2020|p=136}}

Kishvari's poetry was heavily influenced by Ali-Shir Nava'i, as well as the 14th- and 15th-century Azerbaijani poet [Nasimi](/source/Imadaddin_Nasimi).{{sfnm|Demirci|1998|1pp=9, 11|Eyvazova|1983|2p=11|Kasımlı|2007|3p=131}} Ay Say states that the "abundance of {{lang|tr|{{ill|nazires|tr|Nazire}}}}"{{efn|According to Demirci, Kishvari wrote five {{lang|tr|nazires}} to Nava'i.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=110}}}} (poems written in the style of another poet's work) Kishvari composed for Nava'i "clearly demonstrate the influence of Nava'i on the poet's literary personality".{{sfn|Ay Say|2022}} Demirci considers Kishvari to be one of the two Azerbaijani poets most profoundly influenced by Nava'i, the other being the 16th-century poet [Fuzuli](/source/Fuzuli_(poet)).{{sfn|Demirci|1998|p=8}} According to Demirci, Kishvari's poems express his admiration for Nava'i's "greatness and influence", as well as his desire to serve him.{{sfn|Demirci|1998|p=9}} Nava'i's influence is also evident in the language of Kishvari's poems, which show a strong [Chagatai](/source/Chagatai_language) influence, a Turkic literary language once widely spoken throughout [Central Asia](/source/Central_Asia) and whose greatest representative was Nava'i.{{sfnm|Demirci|1998|1p=4|Eyvazova|1983|2p=9|Kasımlı|2007|3p=131}} The influence of Chagatai can be observed in the vocabulary, phonetics, and morphological elements of the {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|dīvān}}.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=112}} [Folk literature](/source/Folk_literature)'s influence can also be seen in Kishvari's [lyric poem](/source/lyric_poem)s.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=108}} He incorporates numerous words and phrases from the Turkic spoken language and various regional dialects into his poetry.{{sfnm|Demirci|2010a|1p=112|Eyvazova|1983|2p=5}}

Muharrem Kasımlı, a Turkish scholar of literature, found Kishvari's poems to be indicative of his deep understanding of both Turkic and Islamic cultures.{{sfn|Kasımlı|2007|pp=131-132}} Demirci characterises Kishvari's poems as having a "flowing, simple, and sincere" style,{{sfn|Demirci|2010b|p=48}} while Arasly distinguishes it by "the simplicity of the language" and "the richness of the ways of representation".{{sfn|Arasly|1966}} The Azerbaijani scholar {{ill|Roza Eyvazova|az|Roza Eyvazova}} regards Kishvari's poetry as "very artistic and interesting".{{sfn|Eyvazova|1983|p=8}} She characterises his verses as vibrant and full of life, marked by their "simplicity of language, clarity of thought, sincerity, [and] fluidity".{{sfn|Eyvazova|1983|p=11}}

== Legacy ==
Kishvari's poetry played a significant role in the development of the Azerbaijani literary language during its formation period in the 15th and 16th centuries.{{sfnm|Arasly|1966|Demirci|2010a|p=108}} He is considered one of the most prominent representatives of [Azerbaijani literature](/source/Azerbaijani_literature) during this time.{{sfn|Demirci|2010b|p=48}} Eyvazova views his poetry to be "one of the most valuable resources" to the evolution of the Azerbaijani literary language, and as a cornerstone in establishing the historical grammar of the language. She also believes that his {{transliteration|az|ALA-LC|dīvān}} holds special importance for the historical comparative study of Turkic languages, because of the variety of Turkic forms used within it.{{sfn|Eyvazova|1983|p=130}} Kishvari's poetry also influenced future Azerbaijani poets.{{sfn|Demirci|2010b|p=48}} He is considered to represent a transitional period between the eras of [Nasimi](/source/Nasimi) and [Fuzuli](/source/Fuzuli_(poet)), two poets regarded as among the greatest in Azerbaijani literature.{{sfn|Bayramova|2020|p=136}} According to Demirci, the existence of copies of the poet's work from Turkey to Central Asia demonstrates the wide popularity his poetry enjoyed.{{sfn|Demirci|2010a|p=113}}

== References ==
=== Notes ===
{{notelist}}

=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |title=Кишвери́ |trans-title=Kishveri |encyclopedia=[Concise Literary Encyclopedia](/source/Concise_Literary_Encyclopedia) |volume=3 |date=1966 |last=Arasly |first=Hamid |editor-first=Alexey |editor-last=Surkov |publisher= |url=http://feb-web.ru/feb/kle/kle-abc/ke3/ke3-5811.htm |access-date=2 September 2023 |language=ru |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406190730/http://feb-web.ru/feb/kle/kle-abc/ke3/ke3-5811.htm |url-status=live}}
* {{cite web |title=Dîvân (Kîşverî) |last=Ay Say |first=Ümran |url=http://tees.yesevi.edu.tr/madde-detay/divan-kisveri |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=Türk Edebiyatı Eserler Sözlüğü |publisher=[Ahmet Yesevi University](/source/Ahmet_Yesevi_University) |date=2022 |language=tr |archive-date=2 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902001824/http://tees.yesevi.edu.tr/madde-detay/divan-kisveri |url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal |last=Bayramova |first=L. A. |date=2020 |title=Жанровые Особенности Персоязычного Дивана Кишвери |trans-title=Genre Features of the Persian-language Divan of Kishveri |url=https://elar.urfu.ru/bitstream/10995/84726/1/978-5-8295-0709-1_2020_024.pdf |journal=Актуальные вопросы филологической науки XXI века: сборник статей IX Международной научной конференции молодых ученых |publisher=[Ural Federal University](/source/Ural_Federal_University) |language=ru |volume=2 |pages=133–137 |isbn=978-5-8295-0707-7 |archive-date=9 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909233238/https://elar.urfu.ru/bitstream/10995/84726/1/978-5-8295-0709-1_2020_024.pdf |url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal |last=Demirci |first=Jale |date=1998 |title=Nevâyî'nin Azerbaycan Sahasına Etkisi |trans-title=The Impact of Nevâyî on the Azerbaijan Field |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/dtcfdergisi/issue/66761/1043985 |access-date=2 September 2023 |journal=Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi Dergisi |volume=38 |issue=1–2 |pages=001–011 |doi=10.1501/Dtcfder_0000001243 |language=tr |via=Dergipark |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413000208/https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/dtcfdergisi/issue/66761/1043985 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last=Demirci |first=Jale |date=January 2010a |title=XV-XVI. Yüzyıl Azerbaycan Edebiyatının Önemli Bir Temsilcisi: Kişverî |trans-title=XV-XVI. An Important Representative of 20th Century Azerbaijan Literature: Kishveri |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/turkbilig/issue/52804/697304 |language=tr |journal=Türkbilig |issue=19 |pages=104–116 |via=Dergipark |archive-date=30 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830084247/https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/turkbilig/issue/52804/697304 |url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal |last=Demirci |first=Jale |date=April 2010b |title=Azerbaycan şairi Kişverî'nin Nevâyî şiirlerine yazdığı tahmisler |trans-title=The tahmis written by the Azerbaijani poet Kishveri on Nevâyî poems |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/turkoloji/issue/43331/527083 |journal=Türkbilig |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=47–55 |doi=10.1501/Trkol_0000000176 |language=tr |archive-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826173002/https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/turkoloji/issue/43331/527083 |via=Dergipark |url-status=live}}
* {{cite book |last=Eyvazova |first=Roza |title=Кишвәри "Диван"ынын Дили |publisher=Elm |year=1983 |language=az-cyrl |trans-title=Language of the Kishveri "Divan" |url=https://turuz.com/storage/Language/2011/0281-Kishveri_Divaninin_Dili(Morfoloji_Ozellikleri)(Roza_Eyvazova)(Baki-1983)(Kiril).pdf |access-date=2 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902001821/https://turuz.com/storage/Language/2011/0281-Kishveri_Divaninin_Dili(Morfoloji_Ozellikleri)(Roza_Eyvazova)(Baki-1983)(Kiril).pdf |archive-date=2 September 2023}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Kasımlı |first=Muharrem |title=Ni'metullah Kişverî |encyclopedia=[TDV Encyclopedia of Islam](/source/TDV_Encyclopedia_of_Islam) |date=2007 |publisher=Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı |isbn=979-975389455-4 |volume=33 |url=https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/nimetullah-kisveri |access-date=2 September 2023 |pages=131–132 |language=tr |archive-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826172959/https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/nimetullah-kisveri |url-status=live}}
* {{cite web |title=Kişverî, Ni'metullâh Kişverî Dîlmekânî (Dîlmegânî) |last=Yörür |first=Ali |url=https://teis.yesevi.edu.tr/madde-detay/kisveri-nimetullah-kisveri-dilmekani |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=Türk Edebiyatı İsimler Sözlüğü |publisher=[Ahmet Yesevi University](/source/Ahmet_Yesevi_University) |date=2015 |language=tr |archive-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826212819/https://teis.yesevi.edu.tr/madde-detay/kisveri-nimetullah-kisveri-dilmekani |url-status=live}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* {{wikisourcelang-inline|az|Kişvəri}}

{{Azerbaijani Turkic literature}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Azerbaijani poets
Category:15th-century Persian-language poets
Category:15th-century poets
Category:16th-century poets
Category:16th-century Persian-language poets

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kishvari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishvari) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishvari?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
