The Farhang-i Jahangiri ( Persian: فرهنگ جهانگیری, lit. ' Jahangir's dictionary') [1] is a Persian dictionary compiled in the 17th century by Mir Jamal al-din Husayn Inju, and commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is one of the most important Persian-language dictionaries produced in Mughal India, [1] and has been termed a "benchmark" in the genre of Persian dictionary-writing. [2]
Mir Jamal al-din Husayn Inju hailed from Shiraz (in present-day Iran), born into a noble Sayyid family. He emigrated to Mughal India at an early age, spending the majority of his life in the city of Agra. He rose to a prominent position in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and began writing the dictionary at the ruler's request in the 1590s. [1] [3] Inju was advised by Akbar to investigate words and idioms from Middle Persian, to understand the nature of the Persian language before it was influenced by Arabic; this was a major objective of the dictionary. [4] Muzaffar Alam interprets this as emblematic of a larger trend of Persian linguistic purification attempts in Mughal India. [5] Richard Eaton views the production of this dictionary as part of efforts by Akbar to associate the Mughal court with Persian culture. [6]
The dictionary was completed after twelve years in 1608, by which time Akbar had died and been succeeded by his son Jahangir; Inju hence named the dictionary in honor of him. In 1622, Inju authored a second edition of the dictionary. [1] [3] The Farhang-i Jahangiri was considered a standard dictionary of Persian in the early 17th century. [5] It was highly influential on subsequent dictionaries such as Farhang-i Rashidi and Burhan-i Qati. [7]
The Farhang-i Jahangiri lists 9,830 words, arranged in alphabetical order. These words were taken from the works of an extensive number of Persian poets. Each entry provides a definition as well as poetic verses where the word was used. The dictionary used at least 44 Persian dictionaries as sources, as well as Persian technical treatises and oral sources. [3]
The dictionary contains an introduction, which includes a discussion of the sources and a detailed study of the Persian language. The dictionary's supplement includes five glossaries. [3]
The Farhang-i Jahangiri ( Persian: فرهنگ جهانگیری, lit. ' Jahangir's dictionary') [1] is a Persian dictionary compiled in the 17th century by Mir Jamal al-din Husayn Inju, and commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is one of the most important Persian-language dictionaries produced in Mughal India, [1] and has been termed a "benchmark" in the genre of Persian dictionary-writing. [2]
Mir Jamal al-din Husayn Inju hailed from Shiraz (in present-day Iran), born into a noble Sayyid family. He emigrated to Mughal India at an early age, spending the majority of his life in the city of Agra. He rose to a prominent position in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, and began writing the dictionary at the ruler's request in the 1590s. [1] [3] Inju was advised by Akbar to investigate words and idioms from Middle Persian, to understand the nature of the Persian language before it was influenced by Arabic; this was a major objective of the dictionary. [4] Muzaffar Alam interprets this as emblematic of a larger trend of Persian linguistic purification attempts in Mughal India. [5] Richard Eaton views the production of this dictionary as part of efforts by Akbar to associate the Mughal court with Persian culture. [6]
The dictionary was completed after twelve years in 1608, by which time Akbar had died and been succeeded by his son Jahangir; Inju hence named the dictionary in honor of him. In 1622, Inju authored a second edition of the dictionary. [1] [3] The Farhang-i Jahangiri was considered a standard dictionary of Persian in the early 17th century. [5] It was highly influential on subsequent dictionaries such as Farhang-i Rashidi and Burhan-i Qati. [7]
The Farhang-i Jahangiri lists 9,830 words, arranged in alphabetical order. These words were taken from the works of an extensive number of Persian poets. Each entry provides a definition as well as poetic verses where the word was used. The dictionary used at least 44 Persian dictionaries as sources, as well as Persian technical treatises and oral sources. [3]
The dictionary contains an introduction, which includes a discussion of the sources and a detailed study of the Persian language. The dictionary's supplement includes five glossaries. [3]