MEDICINE AND THE ARTS
( continued from page 11 ) able on the subject . A master / disciple teaching arrangement can be made which is highly recommended , if feasible . Practice on a recurrent and repeated basis is highly desirable since calligraphy is a highly demanding undertaking .
Styles / Scripts ( khatts ) of Calligraphy :
There are over 100 different styles that are extant and more continue to evolve . Some become obsolete and are thus ignored .
Kufic The first script was derived from the Aramaic Nabatean script that existed in the pre-Islamic era and was initially called Jazm or Hijazi but was eventually popularized in Kufa ( southern Iraq ). It was an angular and square script which was initially rather difficult to decipher . Multiple variations emerged over time and Kufic now has many varieties including plaited Kufic , knotted Kufic , Eastern Kufic , Square Kufic and many others . For the first three centuries of the Islamic period ( 7 th to 9 th CE ), Quran was written in Kufic script . The invention of paper in China and its availability in the Islamic world via Samarkand in the middle of the 9 th century transformed the art of calligraphy . Cursive writing ( flowing with joined characters ) was sorely needed . Ibne Muqlah ( 880-940 ), a Persian by birth and a vizier in Baghdadi court , came to the rescue and he devised a sound foundation of proportionality . He improved several scripts and standardized Arabic script called “ Khatt al Mansub ,” and is celebrated as the “ Father of Arabic Calligraphy .” One of the early
Kufic inscriptions ( epigraphy-seen on surfaces including architecture ) can be seen inside the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem . Ibn Muqlah and his brother Abdulla were instrumental in originating and formulating the “ proportional writing ” and the six styles-muhaqqaq , rayhan , thuluth , nesih , tevki and ruka .
Thuluth originated in the seventh century and matured by the ninth century , has been dubbed the “ King of Calligraphy ” and has arguably become the most imposing , common and impressively elegant script that has endured untill the present time . On restoration of the Dome of the Rock by order of caliph Al- Mamun ( reigned 813- 833 C . E ), a narrow belt of inscription was added in Thuluth script .
Naskh or Nesih evolved in the eleventh century , as a smaller script for copying the Quran because of its straightforwardness and readable simplicity .
Muhaqqaq is a very elegant , straight script , with a large version called “ Jalil ” and smaller version called “ rayhan ” now rarely used and supplanted by Thuluth .
Rika is a small script popular for daily writing favored by Arabs and Turks and newspaper headlines .
Tevki is a thuluth-based smaller script , now obsolete .
Ruka is an even smaller thuluth-based script used for writing smaller inscriptions .
These styles were perfected by Ibn-al-Bawwab ( d , 1022 AD ) until his school was eclipsed by Yakut Al Mustasimi ( d . 1298 AD ). The triad of these three legendary master calligraphers exerted a huge influence on the field of Islamic Calligraphy .
Nastaliq is a script invented in Iran by Mir Ali Tabrizi ( d . 1420 ) as a hybrid of Naskh and Taliq . This highly elegant and effusive script became highly popular to write Farsi , and in the Indian subcontinent for writing Urdu .
OTTOMAN Calligraphy :
Turkey joined the Islamic world in the tenth century and Islamic calligraphy blossomed admirably . Many scripts were invented including Divani and Tughra and existing ones were refined . Long teacher / disciple relationships were the norm and sometimes , Ijaza ( certification ) to write one ’ s name was granted after a decade or so . Two Turkish master calligraphers laid the sound foundation of Turkish Calligraphy around 1500 and their successors have created a model of special beauty and splendor in the calligraphy world . A Turkish saying justifiably proclaims , “ Kuran Mekke ’ ye indi , Misir ’ da okundu , Istanbul ’ da yazildi ” ( The Quran was revealed in Mecca , was recited ( properly ) in Egypt and was written ( beautifully ) in Istanbul .)
Divani is purely a Turkish invention and its name derived from the Ottoman Royal chancery called Diwan . Invented by Housam Roumi , Divani was used to write official documents and reached the height of its popularity under Suleyman I- The Magnificent , in the 16 th century , reaching maturity in the 19 th century . It has been
12 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE