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Central Asia to the Ottomans · Protection and the evil eye

Çintemani

Three spots and two waves: strength and protection from the pelts of leopard and tiger.

What does it mean?

The çintemani consists of three spots arranged in a triangle with two wavy lines below [2]. It appears on kaftans, carpets, İznik tiles, illumination and bookbinding. According to Aziz Doğanay, the spots come from leopard skin and the wavy lines from tiger skin; Ottoman documents call them “şâhî benek” and “pelengî” (tiger-like), and they express strength, power and heroism. In Shahnameh paintings Rostam is shown in tiger- and leopard-skin garments. Doğanay considers naming the motif after the Buddhist wish-jewel “cintamani” a misreading [1]. In folk interpretation it is seen as cloud, lightning or sea waves and is believed to protect against evil, which is said to be why it was used on the kaftans of sultans and princes [2].

Same theme

Göz (eye)Pıtrak (cocklebur)Muska (amulet)Çengel (hook)Akrep (scorpion)Kurtağzı (wolf’s mouth)Tanrı’nın gözü (eye of God)El, Fatma Ana eli (hand, hand of Fatima)

Sources

  1. Aziz Doğanay, “Türk Sanatında Pelengî ve Şâhî Benek Nakışları ya da Çintamani Yanılgısı”, Dîvân İlmî Araştırmalar 17, 2004
  2. Bengütay Hayırsever, “Geleneksel El Sanatlarında Kullanılan Çintemani Motifi ve Seramik Sanatına Yansımaları”, Erciyes Üniversitesi SBE Dergisi 50, 2020

Drawing: Bitki Tabanı, interpreted from the traditional motif.