د غني خان په شاعرۍ کښې مادي فولکلور

Abstract

Folklore refers to the collective body of cultural knowledge, traditions, customs, beliefs, myths, legends, tales, proverbs, and practices that are transmitted across generations within a particular community. It embodies the lived experience of a people and serves as a repository of shared identity, memory, and value systems. Folklore is commonly classified into three interrelated forms: material folklore, encompassing tangible cultural expressions such as clothing, architecture, crafts, and weaponry; semi-material folklore, comprising cultural forms that blend physical objects with performative or ritualistic functions—such as folk music, dance, and ceremonial practices; and non-material folklore, which includes intangible elements like oral narratives, beliefs, customs, and linguistic traditions. Together, these dimensions offer a comprehensive understanding of how cultural meaning is preserved and transmitted through both physical and symbolic mediums. This research paper examines the presence and function of material folklore, with a particular emphasis on traditional weapons and weaponry, in the poetry of Ghani Khan, an eminent Pashto poet and philosopher.