The Autograph of Ali Akbar Khita'i's Khitaynama (Book of China) and Its Manuscript Tradition

This article discusses a poorly acknowledged autograph copy of the Khitaynama by Ali Akbar Khita'i in Persian. Unlike most studies on the work, it argues that MS Istanbul, Asir Efendi 249 (henceforth AE 249) in the Suleymaniye library is an autograph copy completed in 1516 and presented to Suleyman I (r. 1520-1566) when he was still a prince. It also argues that the author prepared two recensions for two patrons, Selim I (r. 15121520) and Suleyman I, around the same time. The article further demonstrates that the appellations sultan and shah were commonly used for Ottoman princes and appeared in various manuscripts. Hence AE 249's usage of the term sultan for Suleyman is not an inconsistency casting doubt on the date of the manuscript and its character. The article additionally provides the most comprehensive list and information on Persian manuscripts of the original work and its two different Ottoman Turkish translations. In this way, it clarifies various confusing references to the manuscripts of the work in modern scholarship. Moreover, it provides a more secure foundation for future research on the Khitaynama as well as on how to discuss the titles of Ottoman patrons and how to conceptualize them in manuscript studies. Ultimately, it hopes to demonstrate that the political context may provide insights to better deal with similar works from the era.