Roman And Chinese Artists
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 a soulful presentation of truth in their art. The color and beauty capture the onlooker’s attention and mesmerize the beholder. The Romans belong to Rome Minor in Asia, i.e., the ancient land of Turks, the region of simplicity and hard work, a Sufi land surrounded by the rich culture of Persia, Greece, and Rome. Rumi tells us that it is not art but heart that matters the most.
The Chinese and the Roman Artists had fallen into a dispute before the Sultan, claiming they were better artists than the other. To settle the dispute about which was better, the Sultan allotted each a house to paint. The Chinese procured all kinds of paints and colored their home most elaborately. On the other hand, the Romans 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.
Let us begin with the story ……...
We are great painters. The Chinese told.
The Romans said grandeur we do behold
King said I’m going to test them both.
Who among you is the better lot?
When both entered the competition
Romans are better at 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 a 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 a hundred types did call.
The generous King had them provided all.
Every morning, buy paints from the treasury.
The Chinese got money to spend on luxury.
Romans, neither engraving nor painting use
Just scrubbing off the rust, plan they choose
Romans closing doors scrubbing had started.
The walls and roofs got cleaned and brightened.
Too much color leads to plain synchrony.
Color is like a cloud, and the moon is simplicity.
All light and brightness are reflected in the cloud,
It owes to the Sun, moon, or stars hanging about.
A window to Mathnavi Maulvi Ma’nvi
Translation and Commentary Seema Arif
Further Links for Rumi
When Chinese with job were done
Beating drums in excitement were stunned.
The King visited all the murals and paintings.
Bemused, he was to see the art so amazing.
Then, the King went to the Romans.
Held in between, they withdrew the curtain.
All pictures and adornments reflected.
On plain walls shining but not decorated
He had enjoyed the 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,
Greed, lust, and spite got out of the scene.
The brightness of the heart is their attribute.
Assimilating all pictures shapes destitute.
The picture with no face immanent in all
Entered Moses’ chest, a reflection befell.
Though that face, the skies are short to hold
The heaven, earth, river, or fish couldn’t behold
Because all are set to limits a thousandfold
The mirror of the heart is not fixed to any hold.
The reason keeps silent, or it does mislead
Tuned to heart, or it is the heart discreet.
Every reflection from the beginning till eternity
Must they be cast on pure heart to infinity?
Till the end, every new impression it takes
It is but reflected in Him unveiling all veils.
Scrubbers are but relieved of color and odor.
They can “see” the goodness in every order.
Chipped off the covering knowledge does absolve
Declared loudly, “Ayn al Yaqin” is our final resolve
They are illumined, blessed are their thoughts
An ocean wide and deep to swim, they begot
Death, fear of every living being
Is mimicked by the brave King
None can but overthrow their heart.
Pearl is safe, but not the cast.
They had bequeathed logic and reason.
Begun, believing in poverty and annihilation.
The day they had discovered heavens eight.
In anticipation, their souls keep open the gate.
Better than the space, throne, and the heaven
Beholding God the seat of truth, their cavern
Bearing a hundred signs, though annihilated
A signpost of the truth, they incarnated.
NOTES
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