Persian literature, Saadi, and the cultural relationship between Vietnam and Iran.

Saadi was born between approximately 1203 and 1208 in the city of Shiraz, Iran. He was a medieval Persian poet and philosopher, author of poems and aphorisms that became a popular trend in classical Persian literature. His major works includeorchard- Bostan (1256) andRose Garden – Gulistan(1257), two great didactic poetry collections, two textbooks on life that brought him fame not only in Persia but also in the Eastern world in general, elevating him to one of the great poets of mankind.

In his speech, Mr. Hossein Alvadi Behineh emphasized: “Introducing Iranian cultural figures, including those with world-renowned surnames, is extremely important in expanding cultural relations and people-to-people exchanges between Iran and Vietnam. Introducing Saadi in the March 2015 special issue of the Journal of Literary Studies, Vietnam Institute of Literature, is one of the recent activities undertaken between the Iranian Embassy and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.” He hoped that “this special issue of the Journal will encourage further exploration by Vietnamese researchers and literature enthusiasts of Saadi in particular and Persian literature in general, and this will also contribute to strengthening mutual understanding between the two great nations of Iran and Vietnam, as well as the intellectual communities of both sides.”

The Iranian ambassador delivered the opening remarks at the thematic discussion (Photo: Tran Minh)

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim expressed his sincere gratitude to the Iranian Embassy for providing scholarships to the University's students, organizing cultural and educational exchange activities, and upgrading the University's Iranian Studies room. The Vice Rector stated that these activities have yielded positive results, helping to promote awareness of Iran's diverse and fascinating culture and society. He added that today's presentation was also meaningful because while Saadi is a novel topic, he is a renowned poet known worldwide.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim introduces the Special Issue commemorating the great poet Saadi Shizuzazi (Photo: Tran Minh)

Next, Associate Professor Dr. Do Thu Ha (Head of the Department of Indian Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies) introduced the Special Issue commemorating the great poet Saadi Shizazi. The content of this special issue on the great poet Saadi spans four main themes: An overview of Saadi's era, life, and career; The humanistic ideological values ​​in Saadi's works; The system of artistic symbols in Saadi's poetry; and Saadi's legacy in the world and in Vietnam.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim poses for a photo with the Iranian Ambassador and faculty members of the Department of Oriental Studies.