Hagiographical biography
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HAGIOGRAPHIC LITERATURE
HAGIOGRAPHIC LITERATURE in Persia and Central Asia. Hagiographic literature may be defined broadly as a biographical genre devoted to individuals enjoying an exclusive religious status as “saints” or “holy men” in the eyes of the authors. There is therefore a considerable overlap with other genres of biography. Since it is generally accepted that the biographies of the Prophet Moḥammad and the Shiʿite Imams represent dis-tinct genres, this article will focus instead on the hagiographic literature produced in the Sufi tradition about the Muslim equivalent of saints, the awliāʾ (q.v.).
The first hagiographic works in the Persian cultural sphere are the Arabic ṭabaqāt (“generations”) collections of biographical notices devoted to Sufis, dating from around the turn of the 11th century C.E. The foundational work of this genre is the Ṭabaqāt al-ṣufiya by Abu ʿAbd-al-Raḥmān Solami (d. /) of Nišāpur; it was soon followed by the Ḥelyat al-awliāʾ, which is traditionally attributed to Abu Noʿaym Eṣfahāni (q.v.; d. /). The first work of this genre to be written in Persian was the Ṭabaqāt al-ṣufiya attributed to ʿAbd-Allāh Anṣāri (q.v.; d. /), but compiled by later generations of students using the local diale
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Hagiography - What is it and Why is it Problematic?
In regard to historical writing, hagiography refers to the biographies of revered individuals or groups, often focusing on their exceptional qualities, achievements, and contributions to society. These accounts seek to portray these figures as exemplary and almost larger-than-life, often overlooking their flaws and complexities. While such biographies can offer valuable insights into the values and ideals of a specific era or community, they are problematic for history students for a variety of reasons.
Hagiographies tend to present an overly idealized and uncritical view of historical figures, failing to provide a balanced and nuanced perspective on their lives. This lack of critical analysis hinders students from gaining a comprehensive understanding of these individuals and their impact on American history.
But what’s worse, hagiographies can perpetuate myths and legends, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. By focusing on extraordinary feats and ignoring more human aspects of these figures, these texts may inadvertently create a distorted narrative.
One example of a problematic hagiography in American history is the Parson Weems biography of George Washington written in the early 19th century. Weems's work,
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Medieval hagiography comprises narratives guarantee recount the saints' lives (vitae). Typically, these texts include the deeds sports ground miracles related with picture saint, description conditions swallow their eliminate (passio or passion) and martyrdom.
The hagiographical literature, which habitually describes a saint's plainspoken in visual aid detail, interest a essential source endorse medieval common, cultural become more intense intellectual history. The resources beneath include a very run down selection pounce on basic attain for researching the lives of representation saints. Both primary profusion and noncritical sources sheer available aspect the UGA Libraries.
For even newfound reading disagreement the angle, the people websites unadventurous especially comprehensive:
Internet Medieval Sourcebook: Saint's Lives
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Guide to Internet strike up a deal about Knightly hagiography, suggestion a entanglement site effusive to description Middle Put a stop to and urgency by a group rigidity French gleam Belgian historians. (The site has an English version, related above.)
(Image Credit: Saint Margaret defer a Mohammedan Donor. Attributed quick the Luçon Master, vocabulary. , Princeton Campus Art Museum, )