The prominent Azerbaijani poet Alijan Qovsi Tabrizi

Alijan Qovsi Tabrizi, an Azerbaijani poet who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, was born in 1568 in Tabriz into a family of craftsmen and poets. He received his initial education from his father, later studied in Isfahan, and after completing his education, returned to Tabriz where he served as a religious figure.

Qovsi Tabrizi wrote his works in both Persian and Azerbaijani Turkish. In his poetry, the poetic features of the classical style are harmoniously combined with the simplicity and sincerity characteristic of folk poetry. The poet expressed his ideas clearly, made extensive use of colloquial language in his poems, and frequently referenced folk sayings and proverbs.

Qovsi Tabrizi is considered one of the prominent followers of the literary school of Fuzuli. His lyrical poetry stands out for its socio-philosophical themes, the use of various poetic genres, and the cultured application of artistic language. His ghazals and other lyrical examples demonstrate high artistic craftsmanship in terms of both form and content.

Two copies of the poet’s divan are known from his literary heritage. One of these divans is preserved in the British Museum in England, and the other in the Georgian State Museum. Azerbaijani literary scholars F. Kocharli, M. Tarbiyat and Salman Mumtaz have studied his work. F. Kocharli presented examples of Qovsi’s ghazals in his book “Materials on the History of Azerbaijani Literature”, while Salman Mumtaz published part of the poet’s works in Baku in 1925. This book includes 62 ghazals, one mukhammas, and several rubai. The Turkish scholar Ismayil Hikmet also dedicated a separate section to Qovsi Tabrizi in his work “History of Azerbaijani Literature”, published in 1928.

Alijan Qovsi Tabrizi passed away in 1640. His poetry occupies a significant place in Azerbaijani literature both for its continuation of the classical tradition and its closeness to the vernacular language.

Recommended literature:

1. Kərimov, Paşa Əli oğlu. XVII əsr anadilli Azərbaycan poeziyası : icmal və portret-oçerklər: monoqrafiya / P. Ə. Kərimov ; red. M. M. Adilov; AMEA M. Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutu. - Bakı : Nurlan, 2012. - 200 s.
2. Təbrizi, Qövsi Əlican. Seçilmiş əsərləri / Q. Ə. Təbrizi ; tərt. P. Ə. Kərimov; red. K. Hüseynoğlu. - Bakı : Lider nəşriyyat, 2005. - 328 s.
3. Təbrizi, Əlican Qövsi. Divan / Ə. Q. Təbrizi ; tərt. P. Kərimov ; red. M. M. Adilov ; AMEA M. Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutu. - Təkrar nəşr. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2012. - 449 s.