Iakob Gogebashvili on Guria (Based on his book „The Door of Nature“)

Abstract

The contribution of the Georgian educator, public figure, and writer Iakob Gogebashvili (1840–1912) to the Georgian nation is invaluable. He played a pivotal role in the education and development of multiple generations. Gogebashvili’s textbooks were used extensively in Georgian schools for many years, among which The Door of Nature (1868) is particularly notable.
Gogebashvili placed great importance on the study of Georgia’s history and geography. In The Door of Nature, the regions of Georgia are described individually, covering their borders, relief, water systems, important cities and villages, churches
and monasteries, educational institutions, as well as the character and customs of the local population.
The aim of this study is to illustrate how Gogebashvili perceived one of Georgia’s most beautiful regions, Guria, highlighting its distinctive features, local color, and its role in Georgia’s cultural and economic life. The main sources for this research are Gogebashvili’s textbook The Door of Nature, Dimitri Kipiani’s memoirs, Kveli Chkhatarai’s work The Annexation of the Principality of Guria to Russia, and Tamar Papava’s book Great Figures in Small Frames. The study employs biographical and historical-cultural methodologies.
According to Gogebashvili, in the 19th century Guria was „a small district of the Kutaisi Governorate-Ozurgeti Mazra“-with a population of about 100,000. Gurians mostly lived in rural areas, practicing agriculture; pastoralism was limited due to the lack of pastures. Their main food consisted of corn and maize, while bread was grown only in small quantities along the Rioni River.
Gogebashvili also describes the unique features of viticulture in Guria, where vines were typically grown on tall trees, mostly on mulberry trees (murkhani). Although largely left to grow naturally, in some areas excellent wine was produced.

Additionally, Gogebashvili provides detailed descriptions of the Gurians’ dwellings, clothing, lifestyle, character traits, and particular dedication to education. In The Door of Nature, Guria and its people are portrayed vividly and emotionally, with facts presented accurately and reliably. Today, these descriptions serve as important historical sources. The Door of Nature is a national textbook that played a crucial role in shaping the education and national consciousness of future generations.