| Divine Face of Jalal ud Din Rumi |
| This Website has been created & maintained by Seema Arif |
| To Rumi Index |
| Roman And Chinese Artists |
| Mathanavi:Book 1 |
| The Chinese are famous for their skill in drawing and exquisite choice of color and form in Art. They pay extra attention to minute details, and thus seek perfection through soulful exhibition of truth in their Art. The color and beauty capture the attention of onlooker and mesmerize the beholder. The Romans are the one belonging to Rome Minor in Asia, i.e. ancient land of Turks, the region of simplicity and hard work a Sufi land though surrounded by rich culture of Persia, Greece and Rome. And Rumi tells us that it is not Art but Heart which matters the most.
The Chinese and the Roman Artists had fallen into a dispute before the Sultan, both of them claiming that they were better artists than the other. In order to settle the dispute, which of them was the better painter, the Sultan allotted to each a house to paint. The Chinese procured all kinds of paints, and colored their house in the most elaborate way. The Romans, on the other hand, used no colors at all, but contented themselves with cleansing the walls of their house from all filth, and burnishing them crystal clear till they were as bright and reflecting as the stars in the sky. Sultan ultimately went to inspection of the both after the interim period. The one painted by the Chinese was much admired; but the Roman house carried off the palm, as all the colors of the other house were reflected on its walls with an endless variety of shades and hues. |
| Translation & Commentary by Seema Arif |
| We are great painters Chinese told
The Romans said grandeur we do behold King said I�m going to test the both Who among you is the better lot? When both had entered the competition Romans better in knowledge comprehension The Chinese exclaimed, Work hard we will Romans answered we�ll reflect wisdom in skill The Chinese said, Give us a house for remake Opposite it, the other house you must take The two houses were facing each other One Chinese did hold; Romans the other Chinese paints of hundred types did call The generous king had them allotted all Every morning to buy paints from treasury The Chinese got money to spend in luxury Romans neither engraving nor paint did use Just scrubbing off the rust, plan they choose Romans closing doors scrubbing had started Walls and roofs been cleaned and brightened Too much color leads to plain synchronicity Color is like cloud and the moon is simplicity All light and brightness reflected in the cloud It owes to Sun, moon or stars hanging about When Chinese with the job were done Beating drums in excitement were stun The King visited all murals and painting Dumb he was to see art so amazing Then the King had come to Romans Held in between, they withdrew the curtain All pictures and adornment had reflected On plain walls shining but not decorated He had enjoyed scene better than before Bewitching the vision, the heart did allure O Son! The Romans are those Sufis Without skill, knowledge or reasoning They had but their chests deeply cleansed Getting greed, lust, and spite out of scene |
 |
 |
| Next Page |