From Cosmic Order to Virtue :The Hierarchy of the Semantic Field of "Dad" in the Shahnameh

"Dad" is one of the fundamental and pivotal concepts in the Shahnameh, the understanding of which is challenging due to its semantic breadth. Utilizing a descriptive-analytical method and drawing upon Jost Trier's "Semantic Field" theory, this research attempts to identify the conceptual structure and semantic network of this term within the text of the Shahnameh. Findings indicate that "Dad" functions as a "conceptual node" in the Shahnameh, linking political, ethical, and ontological concepts. This semantic field is built upon three primary cores: 1. The ancient meaning of "Rite" and "Cosmic Order," originating from the root nahadan (to place/establish) and its connection to the worldview of Asha; 2. The meaning of "Social Justice" in the sense of "Proportion," a meaning often highlighted through structural opposition with Setam (oppression) and Bidad (injustice); 3. The all-encompassing core of "Super-virtue," which transforms "Dad" into a symbolic embodiment of "Goodness." Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the ancient semantic role of "Dad" (meaning 'to place') has been assumed by other cognate words such as Nehad (nature/disposition) and Dehesh (creation/charity), and that the dominance of the modern understanding of "Dad" as merely "Justice" stems from the exclusivity of the concept of justice within this term.