Muhammad is furious, he won't even go into the house
穆罕默德勃然大怒 他甚至不愿走进房子
because it's the creator God
因为创造生物的
who's supposed to create living creatures,
应该是创世主真主
not some tapestry artist.
而不是什么挂毯艺人
So, Aisha takes it down but she doesn't let it go to waste.
因此阿伊莎把它取了下来 但并没有扔掉
She cuts it up and turns it into cushion covers,
她把它剪开 做成了垫子套
and that, apparently, creates no problem.
显然 这样做就没有问题
The story of Aisha's cushion is a wonderful illustration
阿伊莎垫子的故事绝妙地说明了
of how Islamic attitudes can shift according to the role
伊斯兰教对图像的看法
and the setting of the image.
因其所扮演的角色和所在环境而改变
But there's one kind of Islamic art
但有一种艺术
whose role and function is much more significant than any other.
其地位与影响在伊斯兰教文化中是无与伦比的
As soon as Muhammad received the Word of God in the 7th century,
穆罕默德在七世纪收到真主阿拉的启示后
calligraphy, or the art of beautiful writing,
书法 或者说优雅书写之道
was taken to the very heart of Islamic identity.
被视为伊斯兰教荣耀的核心
There's an obligation on the calligrapher
书法家有义务
to serve the community in which he or she is writing for.
为自己负责的社区服务
But calligraphers were highly esteemed.
书法家们是很受尊敬的
The pen is the potent symbol of knowledge.
手中的笔就是他们学富五车的象征
The art of calligraphy became the means by which the sacred word
书法的优雅被赋予新的意义
could be set down, spread, and remain uncorrupted for all time.
它是神圣经文记载传播与保存的方式
From the very birth of Islam,
自伊斯兰诞生之际
the first verses revealed
第一篇经文就是以笔书写的方式
to the Prophet Muhammad were by the pen.
传达给先知穆罕默德的
Therefore, it sanctified
因此
the use of the pen at the outset of Islam.
笔的使用在伊斯兰教开端就被神圣化了
And, ever since that point, artisans have been trying to beautify
自那时起 工匠们就尽全力
the divine word through that pen.
通过那支笔来美化圣言
Of course, the text of the calligraphy is very impressive
毋庸置疑 书法所写内容是令人印象深刻的
but, for me, what is more important is the visual
但于我而言 更有鉴赏价值的是
of the calligraphy, the graphic,
书法所带来的视觉感受 它的图像
the balance and the rhythm of the calligraphy.
它的平衡与律动
To be a good calligrapher, you have to have years of work in you.
要成为优秀的书法家 哪怕仅仅一个字母
Even on one single letter.
都需要积累成年的磨练