纪录片《文明》 第114期 信仰之眼（13）

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 tapestry¹ 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, apparently², 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

calligraphy³, 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 calligrapher⁴

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 esteemed⁵.

书法家们是很受尊敬的

The pen is the potent⁶ 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 graphic⁷,

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

1 tapestry   

n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面

参考例句：

• How about this artistic tapestry and this cloisonne vase?这件艺术挂毯和这个景泰蓝花瓶怎么样？
• The wall of my living room was hung with a tapestry.我的起居室的墙上挂着一块壁毯。

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 calligraphy   

n.书法

参考例句：

• At the calligraphy competition,people asked him to write a few characters.书法比赛会上，人们请他留字。
• His calligraphy is vigorous and forceful.他的书法苍劲有力。

4 calligrapher   

n.书法家

参考例句：

• People would ask, then, how come a young calligrapher should choose to marry a cold-drink peddler? 以后人家会说——年轻的书法家，怎么找一个卖冷饮的？ 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
• Wang Xizhi was a great calligrapher in ancient Chiina. 王羲之是中国古代一位伟大的书法家。

5 esteemed   

adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为

参考例句：

• The art of conversation is highly esteemed in France. 在法国十分尊重谈话技巧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He esteemed that he understood what I had said. 他认为已经听懂我说的意思了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 potent   

adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的

参考例句：

• The medicine had a potent effect on your disease.这药物对你的病疗效很大。
• We must account of his potent influence.我们必须考虑他的强有力的影响。

7 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。