The traditional sport of Zurkhana, as the national and historical sport in Iran and as a cultural trend from the time Shiism was established in Iran, has had a special status in being affected by Shiite teachings as well as contributing to its promotion. This sport is an integration of athletic movements with moral manners and virtues as well as the Shiite teachings and reinforcing physical faculties, and is known, in a period more than 500 years, as the most important sport as far as its harmony with the Shiite teachings and ceremonies is concerned. Apart from the relationship between the background of this sport and the struggles against the oppressive rulers in Iranian history, the traditional sport of Zurkhan, due to its symbols as well as its physical movements and its special rites, turned into a means for promotion of Shiism when it was spread throughout Iran. The importance of this role and the effect it had became more tangible gradually when a widespread attempt was made to eradicate the religious culture in Iran. In view of the importance of this point, the present article uses library resources to investigate the status and the effect of the traditional sport of Zurkhana in promoting Shiism. The basic question of this research is as follows: “How has the traditional sport of Zurkhana been effective in promoting Shiism?” to answer the question, the following hypothesis has been put forward to be tested: “The traditional sport of Zurkhana, affected by the establishment of Shiism, contributed to the promotion of Shiism in various levels of Iranian society, using its own symbols, rites, ceremonies and its special physical movements.” In addition to supporting the above hypothesis, the findings of the study made clear some other dimensions of the relationship between this sport and the Iranian and Islamic traditions
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