ORIENTALISM IN TRANSLATION OF SUFI PERSIAN POETRY

Abstract

This article deals with the translation of Persian poetry in face of orientalistic aproach and its ideological opposite, the islamism, which concerns a oriental essence to the Islamic culture. Considering the strong influence of Zoroastrian religion on Persian culture and its hybridism with Sufism, the author problematizes religious and mystical categorization of Persian authors and presents a translation of an excerpt from Masnavi of Jalal Uddin Rumi, XIIIth century Persian poet, highlighting the presence of Zoroastrian and Islamic elements in complementarity. This work makes evident some historicity aspects that must be considered and intends to give an original contribution to the study and translation of non occidental poetics.

Keywords
Translation; Sufi Poetry; Persian Poetry; Zoroastrianism; Orientalism