Yārsān Econarratology: Bridging Religion, Nature, and Environmental Awareness
摘要
This study delves into the role of Yārsān religious narratives, an ethno-religious minority mostly residing in the Kurdish regions of Iran and Iraq, as conveyors of environmental understanding, scrutinizing their sacred texts and musical components. It accentuates the intricate interplay between these narratives and the natural realm, uncovering their symbiotic connection. Rooted within the Yārsān religious cosmology, these narrative representations shape their “environmental imagination”, as per Lawrence Buell. Employing an econarratological approach, the research amalgamates ecocriticism and narratology, yielding a framework that merges ecocriticism's literary-environmental focus with narratology's narrative structure and style analysis. By exploring imaginative depictions of environments, this study unveils regionally nuanced and subjectively vivid experiences of specific spaces, shedding light on the profound interplay between narratives and the environment: demonstrating the reciprocal molding of stories and their settings. In summation, this research not only provides a unique perspective on Yārsān religious narratives but also contributes to a broader understanding of how cultural and religious expressions interweave with ecological consciousness. By elucidating the dynamic interrelationship between these narratives and the natural world this study reveals their profound capacity to shape individual and collective environmental perceptions—bridging cultural divides and evoking empathy for nature.