From qasida to treatise: philosophical analysis of stories about the conference of the birds
The article traces the evolution of the “bird” topos (<i>murgh</i>) from its direct understanding (<i>haqiqa</i>) to the allegorical (<i>majaz</i>) in the most representative works of the Persian literary tradition of the 10<sup>th</sup>-12<sup>th</sup> centuries. The research involves methods of philological analysis, as well as the method of historical and philosophical reconstruction of the text. It was found, that in the early samples of the classical qasida by Rudaki and Manuchihri birds were one of the necessary elements for marking the “spring” theme. Later in qasidas of Sanai and Khaqani the topos “soul-bird” (<i>murgh-i jan</i>) was firmly entrenched in the poetic dictionary of Persian-speaking Sufis. In the texts of the Brethren of Purity the description of the properties of various animals and birds that entered into an dispute with a person provided the basis for discourse about the properties of the soul. This line was continued by Ahmad al-Ghazzali. In a treatise about bird-souls seeking to find their king, he presented a peculiar description of personal spiritual experience. As a result of the study, author identifies the main themes of the conference of the birds and Sufi concepts that are embodied in specific literary plots.