Symbolic study of animals in Moin al-ddin Jovayni's Negarestan

Symbols often originates from nature, national and mythological rituals, and religion and are one of the methods of communicating and conveying meanings. The words in addition of its true meaning, evoke multiple and even contradictory meanings and images that to be aroused different emotional reactions and feelings in the reader. In Persian literature, from the names of all kinds of animals have been used in various cases and in different meanings. Animals whose names are sometimes be applied in the real sense and sometimes in the unreal and symbolic sense. In this research, the symbolic study of animals is discussed in the book of Jovayni's Negarestan. Animals have been divided from the direction of symbolic meaning and real meaning, and the frequency of each item is also provided. Moin al-ddin Jovayni's Negareatan is a book written in imitation of Saadi's Golestan. The study method is based on theoretical principles and descriptive-analytical method and research tools, has been books and Information and library resources in this area. In compiling the desired contents due to the multiplicity and diversity of different species of animals, they are divided into four groups: ((livestock)), ((birds)), ((insects and vermin)); and ((aquatic)) and has been brought explanations and documents on their symbolic concepts in each group. The aim of writing the research was to find out what symbolic meanings the animals in Moin al-ddin Jovayni's Negarestan were used and to determine the frequency of each. The result of this study reveals that Jovayni has used in respectively from animals, birds, insects and vermin and aquatic animals in the symbolic and real meanings. The amounts of application of real concepts is more in all kinds, and in insects and vermin, symbolic meanings and real concepts are almost equal.