Journal of Literary Criticism

Journal of Literary Criticism

Semiotic analysis of the place and narrative dimensions of the tomb of Pir Palan Dooz

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/jlc.2025.539051.1757
Abstract
The tomb of Pir Palandooz in Mashhad, as one of the historical and religious monuments of the Safavid period, is not only important in terms of architecture and art, but also has semantic narrative layers due to its religious, cultural, and mystical status. This article, using a semiotics of place approach and a descriptive-analytical method, examines how the sense of place is formed and given meaning to this tomb and represents some of its narrative layers. The research aims to examine the role of cultural and social signs in the formation of a narrative place and giving identity to this historical tomb. The main question of the present research is: How have the cultural and semantic elements of the tomb of Pir Palandooz turned it into a meaningful and narrative place? The research findings show that this tomb's external and artistic signs and visual beauty carry deep mystical, religious, and cultural meanings. Also, the name and mystical background of Pir Palandooz, the geographical location of the tomb in the vicinity of the shrine of Imam Reza, and its social function play a significant role in strengthening the creation of a spatial narrative, its sanctity, and its meaningful identity. This tomb has found a special place in the collective memory and cultural identity of the city of Mashhad and its people, not only as a historical monument, but also as a symbol of the connection between folk mysticism and Shiism.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 November 2025

  • Receive Date 04 August 2025
  • Revise Date 11 November 2025
  • Accept Date 30 November 2025