Exploring on the cultural and visual origination of dragon motifs based on contemporary Khorasan carpets

Articles in Press

Authors

1 Graduate Master in Research of Art, Birjand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Handicrafts, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Islamic Art department Faculty of Handicrafts, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Cultural interactions during different periods have led to the variety of motifs used in carpets of Khorasan and have caused these works to have an independent identity in terms of form and meaning. The dragon motif is one of the most numerous motifs in contemporary Khorasan carpets. Achieving a deeper understanding of it can greatly contribute to giving identity to Khorasan carpets. Accordingly, in this study the various concepts and forms of dragons have been examined from the perspective of ancient origination of form and meaning. The main questions of the present study are: How many types of dragons are there in contemporary Khorasan carpets? And what is the origin of the form and concept of the dragon motif based on ancient cultural information? This research examines 7 samples in an analytical-comparative method. Primary data was collected through field studies, documents, and internet sources. In this study, 21 suitable examples were selected for matching based on maximum diversity. The results of this study indicate that the history of the form of dragon images can be traced back to the fifth millennium BC in Iran. These diverse examples have continued to have various forms throughout history, including dragon-snake, winged dragon, two-legged, four-legged, or with appendages on the body. One of the special points of the examples under study is that, in one work, one can see both a positive and a negative dragon at the same time, which could indicate a new creation of the form and meaning of the dragon in the design of contemporary Khorasan carpets. Also, in these research, Iranian dragons can also be seen, and the small influence of China in the design of the form and the formation of the meaning of the dragon can be seen.

Keywords

Journal of Iranian Handicrafts Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 May 2026

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