Concept
The Four Elements and Three Kingdoms of Nature in Sanai's Cosmology
In Section 50 of Hadiqat al-Haqiqah, Sanai outlines a fundamental cosmological framework by detailing the four classical elements (arkan or tabayi') and the three kingdoms of nature (mawalid-i thalatha) that emerge from their interaction.
The Four Classical Elements:
Sanai describes a nested, hierarchical structure descending from the celestial spheres down to the terrestrial center:
- Fire (Atash): The first and uppermost element immediately below the celestial spheres.
- Air (Hava): The space and atmosphere filling the region below the sphere of fire down to the center.
- Water (Bahr-i Akhzar or Green Sea): The third layer, representing the oceans and water bodies.
- Earth (Aghbar-i Tireh): The fourth, lowest, and most solid element forming the physical center of the universe.
The Three Kingdoms of Nature:
Combining these four elements creates the sublunary world, categorized into three ascending kingdoms of generation:
- **Plants (*Nabat...
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Updated 2026-07-04
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Persian Literature Prerequisite Course