Who Are the Qashqai?
The Qashqai (Qashqaʼi, Kashkay) are a Turkic pastoral nomadic tribal confederation in Fars Province, southwestern Iran, numbering approximately 1.5-2 million. They speak Qashqai, an Oghuz Turkic language related to Azerbaijani. The Qashqai are one of Iran's most prominent nomadic groups, known for their colorful textiles, particularly carpets and kilims. They practice transhumance between winter pastures near the Persian Gulf coast and summer pastures in the mountains around Shiraz. The Qashqai have maintained strong tribal identity despite decades of pressure from successive Iranian governments to settle.
Tribal Confederation
The Qashqai confederation comprises several major tribes (the Kashkuli, Sheshboluki, Dareshuri, Farsi-Madan, and Amaleh) plus numerous smaller groups. The ilkhani (paramount khan) historically led the confederation, with lesser khans heading individual tribes. This confederal structure enabled both unity for external affairs and internal flexibility. Qashqai khans wielded considerable power into the 20th century, sometimes challenging central government authority. Reza Shah's sedentarization campaigns attacked tribal leadership; the Islamic Revolution further marginalized traditional authority. Yet tribal identity persists, and many Qashqai continue to identify by tribe.
Carpet Weaving
Qashqai carpets and kilims are renowned for their vibrant colors, distinctive geometric designs, and high quality wool. Women traditionally wove on horizontal ground looms, producing pieces during the seasonal camps. Motifs include stylized animals, flowers, and geometric patterns in rich reds, blues, and earth tones. Each tribe and subtribe has characteristic designs. Qashqai carpets command premium prices in the international market, and weaving has become an important income source. While some production has commercialized, traditional weaving techniques and designs continue, representing one of the world's great carpet traditions.
Contemporary Qashqai
Modern Qashqai navigate between nomadic heritage and settled life. Some continue seasonal migration with reduced herds; many have settled in towns and cities while maintaining tribal identity. Shiraz is home to a large settled Qashqai population. Economic diversification includes carpet production, agriculture, and urban employment. The Qashqai language remains spoken though Persian dominates education. Tourism brings visitors to Qashqai camps and provides some income. Post-revolutionary Iran has been more tolerant of nomadism than the Pahlavi shahs, and some revival has occurred. How the Qashqai preserve their Turkic identity, nomadic traditions, and weaving heritage in modern Iran shapes this distinctive confederation's future.
References
- Beck, L. (1986). The Qashqaʼi of Iran
- Beck, L. (1991). Nomad: A Year in the Life of a Qashqai Tribesman in Iran
- Kiani, M. & Pirnia, H. (2018). The Carpets of the Qashqai