Tawfiq Canaan: Difference between revisions
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'''Tawfiq Canaan''' (b. [[24 September]] [[1882]] - [[15 January]] [[1964]]) was a [[physician]] and pioneer in the field of [[medicine]] in [[Palestine]] |
'''Tawfiq Canaan''' (b. [[24 September]] [[1882]] - [[15 January]] [[1964]]) was a [[physician]] and pioneer in the field of [[medicine]] in [[Palestine]] who was also well-known for being one of the foremost researchers of [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] popular heritage.<ref name=Jubeh>{{cite journal|title="Magic and Talismans: The Tawfiq Canaan Collection of Palestinian Amulets"|author=Baha' al-Ju'beh|publisher=Jerusalem Quaterly|volume=Double edition 22 & 23|accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://www.jerusalemquarterly.org/details.php?cat=5&id=16}}</ref><ref name=ICS-Jericho>{{cite web|title=Tawfik Canaan: Dr. Canaan ... a pioneer leishmaniologist in Palestine|publisher=ICS-Jericho|accessdate=2007-08-22|url=http://islah-jericho.org/scientific_research/famous_leish/tawfik_cannan.htm}}</ref> The author of numerous books, studies and articles on popular medicine and Palestinian heritage, his works have been a valuable resource to researchers of Palestinian and [[Middle Eastern]] heritage ever since.<ref name=Jubeh/> |
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==Early life== |
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Born in [[Beit Jala]], Tawfiq Canaan was the second child of Bechara Canaan and Katharina Khairallah.<ref name=Nashef>{{cite journal|title=Tawfik Canaan: His Life and Works|author=Khaled Nashef|publisher=Jerusalem Quarterly|volume=Issue 16|date=November 2006|accessdate=2007=08-22|url=http://www.jerusalemquarterly.org/details.php?cat=2&id=161}}</ref> After completing elementary school, he was enrolled in the [[Schneller School]] which his father had also attended and where he completed his secondary education.<ref name=Nashef/> In [[1899]] he went to [[Beirut]] to study medicine at the Syrian Protestant College (today known as the [[American University of Beirut]]).<ref name=Nashef/> Shortly after his arrival in Beirut, his father died of [[pneumonia]].<ref name=Nashef/> To lift the financial burden on his family, he began giving private lessons and doing other work at the university to supplement his income.<ref name=Nashef/> |
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Of his father, Tawfiq Canaan has said: <blockquote>"We used to go with my father on short and long trips all over the country in order to get acquainted with the country and the people. This continuous contact with the people nurtured in all of us, and particularly in me, love for the country and the people. This feeling of belonging and unshaken loyalty remained with me till this day."</blockquote><ref name=Nashef/> Khaled Nashef, writing in the [[Jerusalem Quarterly]], has ventured that Canaan's interest and knowledge of nature in Palestine, later reflected in his writings such as the article entitled, "Plant-lore in Palestinian Superstition" (1928) may be related to these trips.<ref name=Nashef/> |
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Canaan graduated from the school of medicine with honors and delivered the graduation speech for his class on [[June 28]], [[1905]].<ref name=Nashef/> Entitled "Modern Treatment," the speech touched on the medical uses of serums, animal organs and X-rays. Published in Al-Muqtataf, it may constitute his first published piece.<ref name=Nashef/> |
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==Philosophical bases in his writings== |
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According to Salim Tamari, Tawfiq Canaan was the most prominent of a school of 'nativist' [[Ethnography|ethnographers]] who published their works in ''The Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society'' (1920-1948). This group was driven by the concern that the "native culture of Palestine", and in particular peasant society, was being undermined by the forces of [[modernity]].<ref name=Tamari>{{cite journal|title=Lepers, Lunatics and Saints: The Nativist Ethnography of Tawfiq Canaan and his Jerusalem Circle|author=Salim Tamari|publisher=Jerusalem Quarterly|volume=Issue 20|date=Winter 2004|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.palestine-studies.org/final/en/journals/content.php?aid=6109&jid=4&iid=20&vid=7&vol=192}}</ref> Tamari writes: <blockquote>"Implicit in their scholarship (and made explicit by Canaan himself) was another theme, namely that the peasants of Palestine represent - through their folk norms ... the living heritage of all the accumulated ancient cultures that had appeared in Palestine (principally the Canaanite, Philistine, [[Hebraic]], [[Nabatean]], Syrio-Aramaic and Arab)."<ref name=Tamari/></blockquote> |
According to Salim Tamari, Tawfiq Canaan was the most prominent of a school of 'nativist' [[Ethnography|ethnographers]] who published their works in ''The Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society'' (1920-1948). This group was driven by the concern that the "native culture of Palestine", and in particular peasant society, was being undermined by the forces of [[modernity]].<ref name=Tamari>{{cite journal|title=Lepers, Lunatics and Saints: The Nativist Ethnography of Tawfiq Canaan and his Jerusalem Circle|author=Salim Tamari|publisher=Jerusalem Quarterly|volume=Issue 20|date=Winter 2004|accessdate=2007-08-18|url=http://www.palestine-studies.org/final/en/journals/content.php?aid=6109&jid=4&iid=20&vid=7&vol=192}}</ref> Tamari writes: <blockquote>"Implicit in their scholarship (and made explicit by Canaan himself) was another theme, namely that the peasants of Palestine represent - through their folk norms ... the living heritage of all the accumulated ancient cultures that had appeared in Palestine (principally the Canaanite, Philistine, [[Hebraic]], [[Nabatean]], Syrio-Aramaic and Arab)."<ref name=Tamari/></blockquote> |
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Revision as of 19:52, 23 August 2007
Tawfiq Canaan | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24 1882 |
| Died | January 15 1964 |
| Occupation(s) | Physician, Ethnographer, Author |
Tawfiq Canaan (b. 24 September 1882 - 15 January 1964) was a physician and pioneer in the field of medicine in Palestine who was also well-known for being one of the foremost researchers of Palestinian popular heritage.[1][2] The author of numerous books, studies and articles on popular medicine and Palestinian heritage, his works have been a valuable resource to researchers of Palestinian and Middle Eastern heritage ever since.[1]
Early life
Born in Beit Jala, Tawfiq Canaan was the second child of Bechara Canaan and Katharina Khairallah.[3] After completing elementary school, he was enrolled in the Schneller School which his father had also attended and where he completed his secondary education.[3] In 1899 he went to Beirut to study medicine at the Syrian Protestant College (today known as the American University of Beirut).[3] Shortly after his arrival in Beirut, his father died of pneumonia.[3] To lift the financial burden on his family, he began giving private lessons and doing other work at the university to supplement his income.[3]
Of his father, Tawfiq Canaan has said:
"We used to go with my father on short and long trips all over the country in order to get acquainted with the country and the people. This continuous contact with the people nurtured in all of us, and particularly in me, love for the country and the people. This feeling of belonging and unshaken loyalty remained with me till this day."
[3] Khaled Nashef, writing in the Jerusalem Quarterly, has ventured that Canaan's interest and knowledge of nature in Palestine, later reflected in his writings such as the article entitled, "Plant-lore in Palestinian Superstition" (1928) may be related to these trips.[3]
Canaan graduated from the school of medicine with honors and delivered the graduation speech for his class on June 28, 1905.[3] Entitled "Modern Treatment," the speech touched on the medical uses of serums, animal organs and X-rays. Published in Al-Muqtataf, it may constitute his first published piece.[3]
Philosophical bases in his writings
According to Salim Tamari, Tawfiq Canaan was the most prominent of a school of 'nativist' ethnographers who published their works in The Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society (1920-1948). This group was driven by the concern that the "native culture of Palestine", and in particular peasant society, was being undermined by the forces of modernity.[4] Tamari writes:
"Implicit in their scholarship (and made explicit by Canaan himself) was another theme, namely that the peasants of Palestine represent - through their folk norms ... the living heritage of all the accumulated ancient cultures that had appeared in Palestine (principally the Canaanite, Philistine, Hebraic, Nabatean, Syrio-Aramaic and Arab)."[4]
Tawfiq Canaan Collection of Palestinian Amulets
This collection was put together by Tawfiq Canaan beginning in the early twentieth century until 1947.[1] Currently held by Bir Zeit university, it gathers together more than 1,400 amulets, talismans and other objects, related to popular medicine and folk practices.[1] Canaan collected these objects from his patients who came from various Palestinian cities and villages, and other Arab countries including Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen.[1]
Canaan was of the opinion that there was a close relationship between popular beliefs and superstitions used in curing diseases and scientific medicine.[1] His patients explained their reasons for wearing the amulets and the effects they had in curing the physical and the mental disorders they were suffering from.[1]
The collection provides valuable information on folk medicine and the manifestations of magic in the popular beliefs and practices of Palestinian and neighboring Arab societies - practices that exist to this day.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Baha' al-Ju'beh. ""Magic and Talismans: The Tawfiq Canaan Collection of Palestinian Amulets"". Double edition 22 & 23. Jerusalem Quaterly. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Tawfik Canaan: Dr. Canaan ... a pioneer leishmaniologist in Palestine". ICS-Jericho. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Khaled Nashef (November 2006). "Tawfik Canaan: His Life and Works". Issue 16. Jerusalem Quarterly. Retrieved 2007=08-22.
{{cite journal}}:|volume=has extra text (help); Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b Salim Tamari (Winter 2004). "Lepers, Lunatics and Saints: The Nativist Ethnography of Tawfiq Canaan and his Jerusalem Circle". Issue 20. Jerusalem Quarterly. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
{{cite journal}}:|volume=has extra text (help); Cite journal requires|journal=(help)