WESTERN OBSERVATIONS OF THE MEVLEVI SEMA: NINETEENTH CENTURY REPORTS ON THE GALATA MEVLEVIHANE IN THE CONTEXT OF ORIENTALIST DISCOURSE

Bahar Karataş

Makale detayları

WESTERN OBSERVATIONS OF THE MEVLEVI SEMA: NINETEENTH CENTURY REPORTS ON THE GALATA MEVLEVIHANE IN THE CONTEXT OF ORIENTALIST DISCOURSE

Yazarlar:

Bahar Karataş

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Osmanlı Kültür ve Sanatı | Yakınçağ Osmanlı Tarihi

Dergi:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.205-234

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358451

pISSN:

1306-8253

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Orientalism has profoundly shaped historical scholarship as a discipline that seeks to explore the East in all its dimensions, making both positive and negative contributions. On the one hand, it has contributed to a better understanding of Eastern culture, knowledge and traditions in the Western world. On the other hand, it has been criticized for reinforcing stereotypical judgements, exoticizing perspectives and colonial narratives. This study examines how the sema rituals of the Mevlevi performed in the Galata Mevlevihane in the 19th century Ottoman Empire were observed by Westerners and interpreted through an Orientalist perspective. Through a comparative analysis based on travelogues and secondary literature, the sharp contrast between the deep spiritual mission of the Mevlevi order and the superficial perceptions of Western observers is highlighted. This study will not only contribute to the existing literature on the Mevlevi traditions but will also examine how these traditions were portrayed by Western observers in the 19th century. In previous research, Western observations of Mevlevi rituals in the Galata Mevlevihane during this period have often been either exclusively positive or exclusively negative. However, this study attempts to present both positive and negative interpretations together to provide a multifaceted analysis of Western perspectives and provide a clearer understanding of the true spiritual essence of Mevlevi rituals.

 Orientalism has profoundly shaped historical scholarship as a discipline that seeks to explore the East in all its dimensions, making both positive and negative contributions. On the one hand, it has contributed to a better understanding of Eastern culture, knowledge and traditions in the Western world. On the other hand, it has been criticized for reinforcing stereotypical judgements, exoticizing perspectives and colonial narratives. This study examines how the sema rituals of the Mevlevi performed in the Galata Mevlevihane in the 19th century Ottoman Empire were observed by Westerners and interpreted through an Orientalist perspective. Through a comparative analysis based on travelogues and secondary literature, the sharp contrast between the deep spiritual mission of the Mevlevi order and the superficial perceptions of Western observers is highlighted. This study will not only contribute to the existing literature on the Mevlevi traditions but will also examine how these traditions were portrayed by Western observers in the 19th century. In previous research, Western observations of Mevlevi rituals in the Galata Mevlevihane during this period have often been either exclusively positive or exclusively negative. However, this study attempts to present both positive and negative interpretations together to provide a multifaceted analysis of Western perspectives and provide a clearer understanding of the true spiritual essence of Mevlevi rituals.

 Orientalism has profoundly shaped historical scholarship as a discipline that seeks to explore the East in all its dimensions, making both positive and negative contributions. On the one hand, it has contributed to a better understanding of Eastern culture, knowledge and traditions in the Western world. On the other hand, it has been criticized for reinforcing stereotypical judgements, exoticizing perspectives and colonial narratives. This study examines how the sema rituals of the Mevlevi performed in the Galata Mevlevihane in the 19th century Ottoman Empire were observed by Westerners and interpreted through an Orientalist perspective. Through a comparative analysis based on travelogues and secondary literature, the sharp contrast between the deep spiritual mission of the Mevlevi order and the superficial perceptions of Western observers is highlighted. This study will not only contribute to the existing literature on the Mevlevi traditions but will also examine how these traditions were portrayed by Western observers in the 19th century. In previous research, Western observations of Mevlevi rituals in the Galata Mevlevihane during this period have often been either exclusively positive or exclusively negative. However, this study attempts to present both positive and negative interpretations together to provide a multifaceted analysis of Western perspectives and provide a clearer understanding of the true spiritual essence of Mevlevi rituals.

 Oryantalizm, Doğuyu tüm boyutlarıyla incelemeyi kendine görev edinmiş bir disiplin olarak tarihte derin izler bırakarak hem olumlu hem de olumsuz katkılarda bulunmuştur. Bir yandan, Doğunun kültürü, bilgi birikimi ve geleneklerinin Batı dünyası tarafından daha iyi anlaşılmasını sağlarken, diğer yandan kalıplaşmış yargılar, egzotikleştirici bakış açıları ve sömürgeci anlatıları pekiştirdiği için sıkça eleştirilmiştir. Bu çalışma, 19. yüzyıl Osmanlı Devletinde Galata Mevlevihanesinde icra edilen Mevlevi sema ritüellerinin Batılılar tarafından nasıl gözlemlendiğini ve Oryantalist bir perspektifle nasıl yorumlandığını incelemektedir. Seyahatnameler ve ikincil literatür kaynaklarına dayanan karşılaştırmalı bir analiz yoluyla, Mevlevi tarikatının derin manevi misyonu ile Batılı ziyaretçilerin yüzeysel algıları arasındaki keskin farklar ortaya konulacaktır. Bu çalışma, yalnızca Mevlevi gelenekleri hakkında mevcut literatüre katkı sağlamakla kalmayacak, aynı zamanda bu geleneklerin 19. yüzyılda nasıl temsil edildiğini ele alacaktır. Mevcut çalışmalarda, 19. yüzyılda Galata Mevlevihanesindeki Mevlevi ritüellerine ilişkin gözlemler hem olumlu hem de olumsuz yorumlarla bir arada ele alınmamıştır. Ancak bu çalışma hem olumlu hem de olumsuz yorumları bir arada ele alarak Batılı gözlemlerin çok yönlü bir değerlendirmesini sunmayı ve Mevlevi ritüellerinin gerçek manevi anlamını daha net bir şekilde ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır.

Makale detayları

WESTERN OBSERVATIONS OF THE MEVLEVI SEMA: NINETEENTH CENTURY REPORTS ON THE GALATA MEVLEVIHANE IN THE CONTEXT OF ORIENTALIST DISCOURSE

Yazarlar:

Bahar Karataş

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Osmanlı Kültür ve Sanatı | Yakınçağ Osmanlı Tarihi

Dergi:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.205-234

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358451

pISSN:

1306-8253

Mevlevi Order

Whirling Dervishes

Sufismmevlevi tarikatı

dönen dervişler

,tasavvuf

Osmanlı devleti

Sayı

Makale detayları

WESTERN OBSERVATIONS OF THE MEVLEVI SEMA: NINETEENTH CENTURY REPORTS ON THE GALATA MEVLEVIHANE IN THE CONTEXT OF ORIENTALIST DISCOURSE

Yazarlar: Bahar Karataş

Yayıncı: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar: Osmanlı Kültür ve Sanatı | Yakınçağ Osmanlı Tarihi

Dergi: Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.205-234

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358451

pISSN: 1306-8253

Mevlevi Order

Whirling Dervishes

Sufismmevlevi tarikatı

dönen dervişler

,tasavvuf

Osmanlı devleti

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Bahar Karataş

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Osmanlı Kültür ve Sanatı | Yakınçağ Osmanlı Tarihi

Dergi:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.205-234

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358451

pISSN:

1306-8253