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PAICH, Slobodan Dan
Possible Tangible and Intangible Sufi Influences in Ottoman Culture
In opening, the paper reflects on manifest and elusive Sufi cultural influences through looking at the Great
Mosque and Hospital at Divrigi in central Anatolia. In this discourse we start with observable phenomena as means of inquiring
into the possibility of a Sufi presence in many aspects of daily and cultural life. The paper is specifically interested
in occurrences that are integrated into mores, folklore and court culture which can possibly reflect Sufi influence without
necessarily stating it.
Music, devotional, therapeutic and personal: Presented is an exploration of richness and diverse influences
that lead to formation of Turkish classical music and the Sufi presence in it trough theworks of Mustafa Itri, Dimitri Kantemiroğlu
and Dede Efendi.
Carpets and craft traditions: The paper explores the main paradox of carpets’ abstract language that is always
in relationship to the human bodies that dwell upon it in daily life. Through the carpets the users are discreetly enveloped
in the underlining rhythms, geometry and order of all things.
Food and courtesy: The most fundamental aspect of any culture is its food. The Turkish way of food from recipes
and presentations to serving, offers numerous points for possible Sufi influence.
Stories and narrative moments: The recognized vehicles of transmission of Sufi ideas are stories. Through a
few examples the paper explores layering of meaning, messages and encouragement that the narratives carry. In closing,
in the itinerant, veiled, intercultural influences are also mentioned in the summary as a possibility of Sufi ubiquitous, presumed
or discrete presence.
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