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One of the rare manuscript specimens from the Timurid period is on display in the “Second Renaissance” exposition of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan — the “Divan” of the great poet and thinker Amir Khusrau Dehlavi.

This manuscript was copied in 1490 in Shiraz, Iran, by the calligrapher Jalal al-Din Muhammad. According to the source, the manuscript consists of 356 folios. Each folio is written in elegant Persian nasta’liq script, with the text arranged in two columns. The headings are embellished with gold illumination and separated by delicate blue and gold ornamentation. The margins surrounding the text are also executed in various artistic styles, adding a distinct elegance to the manuscript’s overall appearance.

In particular, the gold cloud-like motifs, white floral ornaments, and gilded borders highlight the manuscript’s exceptional artistic value. Some folios also contain miniatures executed in the Safavid style. The book is bound in black leather and decorated with gilded medallion-shaped ornaments.

Amir Khusrau Dehlavi is one of the great poets who left an enduring mark on the history of Eastern literature and made a significant contribution to the development of Persian-Tajik literature. His works prominently feature such genres as the ghazal, qasida, rubai, and epic poem. His “Khamsa” is among his most renowned works and had a major influence on the flourishing of the “khamsa” tradition in Eastern literature. His rich literary legacy also occupies an important place in the development of the Eastern arts of bookmaking and miniature painting.

The display of the “Divan” in the “Second Renaissance” exposition is no coincidence. During the Timurid period, science, literature, art, and the culture of bookmaking reached a high level of development. This manuscript is one of the rare testimonies to the rich intellectual and artistic environment that flourished during that era.