Development of Students' Creative Thinking Based on Girih Patterns: Using the Samanid Mausoleum as an Example

Abstract

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the artistic, geometric, and philosophical characteristics of girih patterns found in the Samanid Mausoleum, and explores their pedagogical potential in developing students' creative thinking. The research employs historical-analytical, visual-observational, pedagogical, and mathematical-geometric methods to examine the structure, symbolic meaning, and educational function of these patterns. Through these patterns, students are given the opportunity to deeply understand and integrate art, mathematics, design, and philosophy. In particular, the STEAM model allows the aesthetic, symmetrical, and fractal features of the patterns to enhance students’ spatial thinking, creativity, and cultural identity. The article positions this unique architectural monument as a universal pedagogical resource in modern education.