İstanbul Kadın Müzesi

Topics

Gallery

Poetry

Comprehensive studies have not yet been made of the poet Zeynep Hatun, who was also a contemporary female poet of Mihri Hatun . The limited information we have on Zeynep Hatun has been acquired from books by two male contemporary poets, Latifi and Aşık Çelebi. The information on her place of birth differs in these two books. According to Latifi, Zeynep Hatun was born in Kastamonu, whereas Aşık Çeleb claims that her birth place was Amasya. However, both are of the opinion that she spent part of her life in İstanbul.

Aşık Çelebi emphasizes in his book "Meşairu'ş-Şuara" (Feelings of Poets) that Zeynep Hatun, wishing to become a "wise" person, made some social demands on the position of women in society. The same sources also indicate that Zeynep Hatun wrote a Diwan dedicated to Fatih Sultan Mehmet (1432-1481), which is no longer in existence.

Gazel

Cast off thy veil, and heaven and earth in dazzling light array!
As radiant Paradise, this poor demented world display!
Move thou thy lips, make play the ripples light of Kevser's pool!
Let loose thy scented locks, and odors sweet through earth convey!
A musky warrant by thy down was traced, and zephyr charged:
"Speed, with this scent subdue the realms of China and Cathay!"
O heart! should not thy portion be the Water bright of Life,
A thousand times mayst thou pursue Iskender's darksome way.
O Zeyneb, woman's love of earthly show leave thou behind;
Go manly forth, with single heart, forsake adornment gay!
(Zeynep Hatun)
Source: Charles F. Horne, ed., The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, (New York: Parke, Austin, & Lipscomb, 1917), Vol. VI: Medieval Arabia.

Gazel (Original version in Ottoman Turkish)
Keşfet nikabını yeri göğü münevver et
Bu âlem anasırı firdevs-i enver et.
Depret lebini cüşe getir hacz-i kevseri
Amber saçını çöz bu cinanı muattar et.
Hattın berat verdi saba yeline dedi
Tez er hatay'a çin'i tamam et müseehhar et.
Yâra yolunda âşk ile derdinden ölenin
Kim der sana ki hecr ile cânın mükedder et.
Zeynep çü dost zülfü gibi tarümarsın
Divane olma şiirini divan ü defter et.
Zeyneb ko meyli zinet-i dunyaya zen gibi
Merdane var sade-dil ol terk-i ziver it.
(Zeynep Hatun)

(No information available)

(No information available)

Zeynep Hatun acquired her knowledge of Arabic, Persian and Composition through private lessons.

• Mother: (No information available)
• Father: (No information available for his name, judge)
• Marriage: İshak Efendi (judge)
• Friends: Mihri Hatun (Poet), II. Mehmet (Fatih Sultan Mehmet, reigning 1451-1481)

Composition in Her Memory

The poem in which Zeynep Hatun declares her love for Fatih Sultan Mehmet was composed in Saba Tone in Can Attila's Album 1453 "Sultanlar Aşkına".

1453 Sultanlar Aşkına, Can Atilla, CD, Sony Music, İstanbul, 2006.
Music and Soloist: Ayşe Erdal, Lute: Bayram Coşkuner

Your adorableness is God's gift to you,
Resembling the verses of Yusuf´s charm
Your beauty, my love, your whims and my patience
Increase every moment, until eternity.
(Zeynep Hatun)
Translation: Meral Akkent, 2012

(Original version in Ottoman Turkish)
Şehâ bu sûret-i zîbâ sana Hak'dan inâyettir,
Sanasın Sûre-i Yûsuf cemâlinden bir âyettir.
Senin hüsnün, benim aşkım, senin cevrin, benim sabrım,
Demâdem artar, eksilmez, tükenmez, bî-nihâyettir.
(Zeynep Hatun)

Filiz Kılıç (Ed.), Aşık Çelebi, Meşâiru'ş-Şuarâ, İstanbul Araştırmaları Enstitüsü Yay. 3 Cilt, İstanbul, 2010.

Mustafa İsen (Ed.), Latîfî Tezkiresi (Tezkiretü'ş-Şuarâ), Ankara, 1990.