Title: Thus Spoke Zoroaster

Author: Yuan Wenqi

Publisher: China Intercontinental Press

Publication Date: February 2021

Format: Hardcover, 16 - mo

ISBN: 9787508546100

Price: 48.00 CNY

The Avesta can be regarded as the most important encyclopedic work in ancient Persia. The thematic research on the Avesta, the ancient Persian scripture, and its Pahlavi language documents is a pioneering academic study. The ten papers listed in this book, to some extent, fill the gaps in the field of academic research in China.

This book is a selection of a series of articles written by the author in the 1980s on a special topic of ancient Iranian culture. It mainly focuses on the discussion of the Avesta, the ancient Persian scripture, and its Pahlavi language documents. From the aspects of literature, religion, philosophy, mythology, and history, it explores the nature, characteristics, and basic content of ancient Persian culture, as well as its influence on Iranian culture during the Islamic period.

Yuan Wenqi was born in 1940. He graduated from the Department of Asian and African Languages at Peking University. In October 1964, he started working at the Institute of Foreign Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His main academic expertise lies in ancient Persian religion, mythology, and philosophy. Currently, he is engaged in the study of Iranian (Persian) literature. His main representative works include Dualistic Theism: A Study of Ancient Persian Religion and Mythology (The Commercial Press), Selected Persian Myths (China Children's Press), The Avesta (The Commercial Press), Mathnawi (Volume 3, Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House), and A Comparative Study of Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism.

Chapter 1: The Avesta, the Ancient Persian Scripture / 001

Chapter 2: Thus Spoke Zoroaster

An Analysis of the Hymns in the Avesta - Gathas / 021

Chapter 3: On the Hymns to the Gods in the Avesta - Yasht / 047

Chapter 4: Good and Evil, Auspiciousness, and Divine Right

An Analysis of the Zam - i - Ad Yasht in the Ancient Persian Scripture / 085

Chapter 5: A Philosophical Exploration of the Concept of "Spiritual Body" in Zoroastrianism / 099

Chapter 6: The Myths in the Avesta and the Philosophy of Zoroastrianism / 119

Chapter 7: The Myth of the Divine Glory and the Mandate of Heaven

Reading the Hymns to the Gods in the Zam - i - Ad Yasht / 133

Chapter 8: A Preliminary Exploration of the Pahlavi Language and Pahlavi Literature / 149

Chapter 9: The Concept of Divine Right in the Legends of Emperors

An Exploration of the Theme of the Pahlavi Masterpiece The Deeds of Ardashir Papakan / 167

Chapter 10: Praising the Young and Old Heroes, Creating an Eternally Famous Ode

Reading the Pahlavi Masterpiece In Memory of Zarihr / 185