A Historical and Thematic Review of the Development of Hafiz Studies from the Beginning to 2010

A bunch of studies have been published in various form of books and papers on Hafiz, and his thoughts, status and art in the field of Persian literature. Due to the large amount and the continuous process of such studies, and to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, it is necessary for them to be reviewed to address the lacks and shortages in this field. This study examines the historical process of Hafiz studies and their subjects. Since the beginning of the process of Hafiz studies (1919) up to 2010 about 2068 studies have been done. This study reviews the historical trend of Hafiz studies in the form of papers, and checks the reasons of the ups and downs in their quantity and quality. The studies are categorized under five historical periods and eight subjects of description of verses, critical review of books and studies about Hafiz, introduction of various Divan corrections, introduction of new versions, character analysis, Hafiz’s life and thoughts, Hafiz and the others, aesthetics, and other studies. The results show the rising process of production of studies since the beginning up to the third historical period due to the holding of two Hafiz’s memorial conferences. In the fourth period, this process quantitatively falls down but qualitatively rises till the fifth period when both quantity and quality of the papers escalate due to the introduction of new literary topics and the advance of criticisms.