''Javānmardi'' ( fa, جوانمردی) is a

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

word which refers broadly to the ideological or philosophical underpinnings an ethical system dominated by altruism, magnanimity and liberality linked to

chivalry Chivalry, or the chivalric code, is an informal and varying code of conduct developed in Europe between 1170 and 1220. It was associated with the medieval Christianity, Christian institution of knighthood; knights' and gentlemen's behaviours we ...

, and particularly spiritual chivalry. It is a concept usually discussed within

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...

contexts. It is also referred to (primarily in Arabic) as ''

futuwwa Futuwwa (Arabic: فتوة, "young-manliness" or "chivalry") was a conception of moral behavior around which myriad institutions of Medieval confraternity developed. With characteristics similar to chivalry and virtue, these communal associations of ...

''( fa, فتوت).

''Luti'' and ''Dash mashti''

The ''lutis'' ( fa, لوتی ''lūtī'') were a unique type of masculine men with roots from the Persian Sufi brotherhoods, ''

ayyār Ayyār, ( ar, عيار, ʿayyār, pl. ''ʿayyārūn''; fa, عیار, Ayyâr, pl. ''Ayyârân'') refers to a person associated with a class of warriors in Iraq and Iran from the 9th to the 12th centuries. The word literally means vagabond. Ayy ...

''s, and

ideas in 15th-19th century

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

. They had distinct rites, attitudes, clothing, and traits, most notably practicing

Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals Pahlevani and zourkhaneh rituals is the name inscribed by UNESCO for varzesh-e pahlavāni ( fa, آیین پهلوانی و زورخانه‌ای, "heroic sport") or varzesh-e bāstāni (; , "ancient sport"), a traditional system of athletics a ...

. Their spiritual and martial model of masculinity was ''javānmardi'', which means the state of being ''javānmard''. In late 19th century, a unifying national Persian masculine gender identity was gradually formed during the political and social developments and modernization/Westernization in late

Qajar Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...

(1785-1925), particularly during the

Persian Constitutional Revolution The Persian Constitutional Revolution ( fa, مشروطیت, Mashrūtiyyat, or ''Enghelāb-e Mashrūteh''), also known as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, took place between 1905 and 1911. The revolution led to the establishment of a par ...

(1905-1911), and first Pahlavi periods (1925-1941), which came into conflict with the ideals, norms, traits, and appearance of the lutis; the latter gradually became menacing, counter-normative, deviant, anxiety-provoking, chaotic, violent, and sexually ambiguous.

In popular culture

Dash Mashti was an influential subgenre of the

Iranian cinema The Cinema of Iran (Persian: سینمای ایران), also known as the Cinema of Persia, refers to the cinema and film industries in Iran which produce a variety of commercial films annually. Iranian art films have garnered international fame a ...

that embodied ''javanmardi'' ideals and ideas. Most of these films were produced in 1950s in Iran. The best example is considered the 1971 movie Dash Akol.

In modern Iran

In modern times the concept indicates to an idealized configuration of masculinity in Iran. Some historical actors are considered of representing the javanmardi-ethos paradigmatically. The merchant Tayyeb Hajj Reza'i (1912-1963) is nowadays remembered as the "javanmard-e bozorg", i. e. the "great ideal man".Gölz
"Representation of the Hero Tayyeb Hajj Reza’i. Sociological Reflections on javanmardi."
In Javanmardi: The Ethics and Practice of Persianate Perfection. Edited by Lloyd Ridgeon, 263–80. Berkeley, CA: Ginkgo Press, 2018.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Javanmardi Sufi philosophy Persian words and phrases Iranian culture