Vaqār Shirazi, the son of Vesāl Shirazi, was among the prominent poets of the thirteenth century AH in Shiraz. His dīvān survives, though the sections devoted to qiṭ‘āt and chronograms (madda-tārīkh) are limited. By examining manuscript copies, tazkiras, and epigraphs across Shiraz, the authors identified several chronograms absent from his dīvān. This study introduces 214 previously unknown verses contained in twenty poems. These compositions, in addition to Persian, appear in Arabic and molammaʿ (mixed Persian-Arabic), thus expanding the corpus of Persian poetry. For accuracy, the newly discovered poems were collated with eleven manuscript copies of his dīvān. The research also underscores the significance of epigraphy in literary scholarship. Another notable outcome is the identification of the inscription on the historic clock of the shrine of Shāh Cherāgh , authored by Vaqār and published here for the first time after nearly sixty years. Methodologically, the study combines fieldwork and library-based research: surveying inscriptions in Shiraz tombs and shrines and comparing them with manuscript and printed editions of the dīvān led to the recovery of these poems.
Keywords: Vaghar Shirazi, Newly Discovered Poems, Dar al-Salam Shiraz, Shah Cheragh, Epigraphy
Introduction
Mirza Ahmad Shirazi, known by his pen name Vaqār, and the eldest son of Vasal Shirazi, was among the distinguished poets of the thirteenth century AH in Shiraz. His literary corpus encompasses a Divan of poetry, masnavis, and a variety of other poetic compositions, including ghazals, qasidas, elegies, and tarkib-band, with particular emphasis on verses associated with inscriptions and historical cemeteries. This study examines the previously unrecorded poems of Vaqār Shirazi found on historical inscriptions in Shiraz, highlighting their significance not only in terms of literary and artistic value but also from historical, biographical, and religious perspectives. Historical inscriptions and funerary monuments in Iran, particularly in Shiraz, convey profound cultural and literary meanings, and a systematic study of these sources provides insights into aspects of Persian literary history that have hitherto received limited scholarly attention. The Vasal Shirazi family played a pivotal role in the production and preservation of such works, and a substantial number of the extant inscriptions in Shiraz can be attributed to this family.
Methods & Materials
This study, drawing upon both manuscript and printed editions of Vaqār Shirazi’s Divan, as well as field investigations of inscriptions in cemeteries and sacred shrines, undertook the identification and documentation of previously unrecorded poems. The sources examined comprised eleven manuscript and printed editions of the Divan of Vaqār and Farhang, preserved in the National Archives and various university libraries, as well as historical inscriptions located in the Shah Cheragh shrine, the Dar al-Salam cemetery, and Hafezieh. Through a meticulous comparison of the newly discovered verses with the texts of the Divans, the researchers identified 214 lines of poetry by Vaqār that had not previously appeared in any published source. The analysis included the identification of date inscriptions (māddatārīkh) using the abjad system, stylistic examination of the poet’s compositions, including tarkib-band, ghazals, and qasidas. Furthermore, the collation of these verses with manuscript and printed sources allowed for the verification of their authenticity and textual integrity.
Discussion & Result
The newly discovered poems of Vaqār Shirāzi include inscriptions on the tombstones of Vesāl Shirāzi, Mirza Hedayatollah Ghavāmi, Sahib Sultan Begum, Haj Yusof Khan, Hakim Shirazi, Borjīs Banu, Rahmat-‘Alishah, Ali Akbar Ghavām Shirazi, Dāvari Shirazi, Jafarqoli Khan Nawab Hindi, Mohammad Jafar Khan Mohtaseb, Mohammad Hasan Khan Pahlavan, Sāber Shirazi, Mirza Yusof Mazhabbashi, the clock inscription of Shah Cherāgh, Sheikh Mohammad Mahdi Kojuri, Irāj Mirza Qajar, and the eastern door of the Shah Cherāgh iwan. In addition to recording historical events, these pieces reflect Vaqār’s skill in poetic composition, his use of rubāʿi, ghazals, and short poetic forms, and his innovation in abjad chronograms.
The abjad chronograms not only indicate the year of death or the construction date of a building, but also convey information about the familial and social relationships of the deceased, as well as their cultural and religious significance. They provide new insights into families, artistic works, and architectural heritage in Shiraz. Careful re-reading of the verses and correction of previous readings allow for an accurate understanding of the art of inscription and the literary stature of Vaqār Shirāzi during the Qajar period. For example, the clock inscription on the old structure of the shrine of Ahmad ibn Musa (peace be upon him) had never been mentioned in any source and remained hidden for about sixty years; it is identified and introduced for the first time in the present study. These newly discovered materials open fresh horizons for Shiraz studies and literary research of the thirteenth century AH.
Conclusion
The present study demonstrated that the poetic works of Vaqār Shirāzī are not limited to his published divan but also include a valuable collection of previously unknown verses inscribed on historical tombstones and sacred structures. Through precise comparison with manuscript and printed editions of Vaqār’s divan, 214 previously unpublished couplets were identified. An analysis of the poet’s style, including his composition of tarīb-bands, ghazals, and qasidas, reveals Vaqār’s diverse literary abilities and his remarkable mastery of both poetic techniques and epigraphic inscription. Beyond their literary significance, these newly discovered poems hold considerable historical, biographical, and religious value, providing novel insights into the lineage of the Vesāl Shirāzī family, the construction dates of monuments and tombs, and certain chronograms. The findings of this study underscore the importance of epigraphic research in complementing literary and historical studies and highlight the necessity of systematically recording and analyzing such works.