TEHRAN (Iran News)  Beijing’s Peking University has held a ceremony to commemorate Hafez, the revered 14th-century Iranian poet, with Chinese scholars highlighting his global influence and describing his work as a “shared voice of humanity in pursuit of truth, love and beauty.”

Speaking during the ceremony on Saturday, Li Shujing, dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Peking University, said Hafez’s poetry – known for its passionate expression, profound ideas, and romantic imagination – has not only shaped the spirit of the Iranian nation but also inspired people around the world.

“China and Iran, two countries with ancient civilizations, share poetry, emotions, truth, and wisdom,” Li said, adding that the event paid tribute to a literary genius while underscoring dialogue between two longstanding cultures.

Iran’s Ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, who attended the ceremony, pointed to the strong record of cultural interaction between the two nations. He noted that Persian language and literature programs exist in 14 Chinese universities, including nearly seven decades of such studies at Peking University, which he said reflects the depth of cultural ties.

Speaking during the ceremony on Saturday, Li Shujing, dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Peking University, said Hafez’s poetry – known for its passionate expression, profound ideas, and romantic imagination – has not only shaped the spirit of the Iranian nation but also inspired people around the world.

“China and Iran, two countries with ancient civilizations, share poetry, emotions, truth, and wisdom,” Li said, adding that the event paid tribute to a literary genius while underscoring dialogue between two longstanding cultures.

Iran’s Ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, who attended the ceremony, pointed to the strong record of cultural interaction between the two nations. He noted that Persian language and literature programs exist in 14 Chinese universities, including nearly seven decades of such studies at Peking University, which he said reflects the depth of cultural ties.

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Hafez received a classical religious education and was known for his expertise in Quranic and other theological subjects. The name “Hafez” signifies one who has memorized the Quran by heart. He also wrote commentaries on religious classics, showcasing his deep understanding and intellectual prowess.

But it is Hafez’s poetry that truly captures the hearts and minds of readers. His verses brim with mysticism, love, and profound wisdom. They have not only withstood the test of time, but continue to inspire and captivate audiences internationally.

Every year, on the 20th of Mehr on the Iranian calendar, which fell on October 12 this year, Iran and Persian-speaking communities around the world celebrate Hafez Day. This special occasion provides an opportunity to appreciate the significance of Hafez’s contributions to literature, spirituality, and humanity as a whole. It is a day to commemorate the man whose poetry has become an integral part of Persian culture, touching the souls of countless individuals throughout history.

Hafez’s poetry holds a special place within the literary canon, often described as Sufi poetry due to its spiritual depth and connection to the divine. His works, consisting of ghazals and odes, delve into themes such as love, faith, and the journey of the human soul towards enlightenment. Despite being written centuries ago, Hafez’s words remain relevant today, speaking to the universal human experience.

One of Hafez’s remarkable qualities is his ability to transcend cultural boundaries. Translations of his poetry into various languages have allowed people from different corners of the world to appreciate the beauty of his verses. Renowned poets like Goethe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and contemporary writers such as Daniel Ladinsky have been drawn to Hafez’s works, undertaking the task of translating them into English and other languages. Through these translations, Hafez’s poetry has reached a wider international audience.

Hafez’s divan, a collection of his poems, is particularly renowned. Several partial English translations of this work have been produced, including those by Gertrude Bell and H. Wilberforce Clarke. These translations provide English-speaking readers with glimpses into the wisdom and enchanting imagery present in Hafez’s original Persian verses.

Hafez’s influence extends far beyond the realm of literature, reaching into the realms of art, music, and philosophy. Artists, musicians, and philosophers have all found inspiration in his profound verses, each interpreting them in their own unique way. Musicians like Shahram Nazeri have transformed Hafez’s poetry into soul-stirring songs, while artists have used his words as a wellspring of creativity. Hafez’s teachings on love and spirituality have also resonated with thinkers and philosophers, shaping their philosophical perspectives on life.

The celebration of Hafez’s poetry continues through annual gatherings and festivals held worldwide. His tomb, known as the ‘Hafezieh,’ located in Shiraz, Iran, serves as a pilgrimage site for poetry enthusiasts and spiritual seekers. Each year, people from diverse backgrounds come together to honor his legacy and celebrate his enduring impact.

In a world often marked by division and misunderstanding, Hafez’s poetry stands as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. It speaks to the timeless truths that transcend cultural, religious, and linguistic boundaries. His verses serve as a bridge, fostering connection and understanding among people from different walks of life.

Hafez’s poetry is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the universality of the human experience. As the poet of love and wisdom, Hafez continues to live on in the hearts of those who cherish the beauty and depth of his verses.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) – A stolen 15th-century Divan of Hafez has been recovered by a Dutch art detective after an international “race against time,” Agence France-Presse reports.  

The gold-leafed volume worth around one million euros ($1.1 million) was found to be missing from the collection of an Iranian antiques dealer after his death in Germany in 2007.

It sparked a decade-long search for one of the oldest surviving copies of this stolen “Divan of Hafez” — the collected works of the poet who remains extremely popular in Iran and has inspired artists worldwide.

But Arthur Brand dubbed the “Indiana Jones of the Art World” for tracing a series of lost works, finally tracked down the tome via the murky stolen arts underworld, AFP reported.

“This is a hugely important find for me because this is such an important book,” Brand said as he showed AFP the recovered book at an Amsterdam apartment.

Hafez — full name Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafiz Shirazi — is one of the best known mystical bards. American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson called him the “Prince of Persian poets”.

Hafez’s Divan can still be found in most Iranian homes where it is traditionally read out during family celebrations for the Persian New Year.

The theft of the manuscript, which dates from 1462 to 1463, was discovered by the family of book dealer Djafar Ghazy after he died in an old people’s home in Munich in 2007.

While going through Ghazy’s computer, they realized the reclusive pensioner had in fact collected hundreds of ancient manuscripts — but that they were all gone.

In 2011 German police recovered 174 of them raiding the home of another Iranian pensioner who had befriended Ghazy.

“But the most important piece, one of the earliest and most accurate copies of the famous ‘Divan of Hafez’, was still missing,” said Brand.

German police announced a 50,000-euro reward and issued a flyer describing the book in 2016 but there was still no trace of it, until late 2018.

Brand then received a phone call from an Iranian dealer, asking the Dutchman to “urgently” meet him in Germany.

“The man told me he was visited by two officials who said they were ‘linked to the Iranian embassy’,” Brand said.

According to AFP, Iran had already shown an interest in the case, saying it would take “all legal means” to get back the manuscripts that were found in 2011 after Germany gave two back but decided most of the rest were legally owned by the collector.

“After my informant was contacted, I knew that Iran was also looking for the missing Divan and I started a race against time to see if I could find it first, as the book belonged to Ghazy’s family,” Brand said.

The Dutchman then flew to London to meet an unnamed man “who became extremely nervous” when shown the flyer of the missing book and confessed he had seen it as a friend of his had sold it to a major buyer.

By then Iranian officials were also in London asking questions about the manuscript, Brand said.

“The buyer was shocked and furious. After all, he was sold a stolen book and now everybody including the Iranian government was looking for it,” Brand said.

By now afraid, the buyer flew to Paris to demand his money back from the original seller.

But Brand persuaded him to go back to London and finally the collector handed over the book via an intermediary in late 2019.

Brand said he will travel to Munich next Wednesday to return the Divan to the German police.

“The next steps are currently being discussed together with the heirs” of Ghazy, police spokesman Ludwig Waldinger told AFP.

Experts said this edition could be of great historical and literary value for scholars and admirers of Hafez, whose works were published after his death.

The recovered book is “one of a handful still in existence,” said Dominic Parviz Brookshaw, associate professor of Persian literature at Oxford University.

“It’s an extremely early edition — although not the earliest — which would make it very rare and valuable,” Brookshaw told AFP.

Shamseddin Mohammad is known by his pen-name as Hafez, which means the one who memorizes a book. He was given the title because he could recite the holy Qur’an completely by heart.

He is regarded as one of the main pillars of ghazal or love songs, roughly equivalent to ode, in Persian poetry.

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Veteran stage and screen actor Nasser Aqai portrays Goethe in the film titled “Hafez and Goethe”, Iran’s Documentary and Experimental Film Center (DEFC) that sponsored the project announced on Tuesday.

The film has been shot on location in Hafez’s hometown Shiraz, which also houses his tomb, and Tehran. Last spring, Fereshteh-Hekmat and his crew also traveled to Frankfurt, where Goethe was born, and several other German cities such as Weimar, Berlin, Heidelberg and Leipzig to shoot scenes of the film.

“Hafez and Goethe” will have its premiere in Tehran in December during the Cinema Verite, Iran’s major international documentary festival that the DEFC organizes every year in December.

Goethe wrote “West-East Divan”, which contains his poems, notes and essays, under the influence of Hafez’s poetry.

He was familiar with Hafez and his works through his friendship with Austrian Orientalist Joseph Freiherr von Hammer-Purgstall (1774-1856) who provided the first ever complete translation of the Divan of Hafez into a Western language.

“In fact, Hammer-Purgstall built a bridge between Goethe and Hafez,” Iranian scholar Kurosh Kamali Sarvestani once said.

Photo: Iranian actor Nasser Aqai portrays German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in the docufiction “Hafez and Goethe” by Farshad Fereshteh-Hekmat. (DEFC )

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