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=                    The_Conference_of_the_Birds                     =
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                            Introduction
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'The Conference of the Birds' or 'Speech of the Birds' (,
'Manṭiq-uṭ-Ṭayr', also known as  'Maqāmāt-uṭ-Ṭuyūr'; 1177) is a
Persian poem by Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar, commonly known as Attar
of Nishapur. The title is taken directly from the Qur’an,
[https://quran.com/27/16 27:16], where Sulayman (Solomon) and Dāwūd
(David) are said to have been taught the language, or speech, of the
birds ('manṭiq al-ṭayr'). Attar's death, as with his life, is subject
to speculation.


                              Synopsis
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In the poem, the birds of the world gather to decide who is to be
their sovereign, as they have none. The hoopoe, the wisest of them
all, suggests that they should find the legendary Simorgh. The hoopoe
leads the birds, each of whom represents a human fault which prevents
humanity from attaining enlightenment.

The hoopoe tells the birds that they have to cross seven valleys in
order to reach the abode of Simorgh. These valleys are as follows:



Sholeh Wolpé writes, "When the birds hear the description of these
valleys, they bow their heads in distress; some even die of fright
right then and there. But despite their trepidations, they begin the
great journey. On the way, many perish of thirst, heat or illness,
while others fall prey to wild beasts, panic, and violence. Finally,
only thirty birds make it to the abode of Simorgh. In the end, the
birds learn that they themselves are the Simorgh; the name “Simorgh”
in Persian means thirty (si) birds (morgh). They eventually come to
understand that the majesty of that Beloved is like the sun that can
be seen reflected in a mirror. Yet, whoever looks into that mirror
will also behold his or her own image."


                             Commentary
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Attar's use of symbolism is a key, driving component of the poem. This
handling of symbolisms and allusions can be seen reflected in these
lines:



Beside the symbolic use of the Simorgh, the allusion to China is also
very significant. According to Idries Shah, China as used here, is not
the geographical China, but the symbol of mystic experience, as
inferred from the Hadith (declared weak by Ibn Adee, but still used
symbolically by some Sufis): "Seek knowledge; even as far as China".
There are many more examples of such subtle symbols and allusions
throughout the Mantiq.
Within the larger context of the story of the journey of the birds,
Attar masterfully tells the reader many didactic short, sweet stories
in captivating poetic style.

Sholeh Wolpé, in the foreword of her modern translation of this work
writes:


Wolpé further writes: "The book is meant to be not only instructive
but also entertaining."


                        English translations
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*
*, reissued by Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd, 1961.
*, re-edited as 'The Canticle of the Birds', Diane de Sellier Éditeur,
2013.
*.
*.
*.
*.


   ''La Conférence des oiseaux'' and other theatrical adaptations
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Peter Brook and Jean-Claude Carrière adapted the poem into a play
titled 'La Conférence des oiseaux' ('The Conference of the Birds'),
which they published in 1979. Brook toured embryonic versions of the
play around rural Africa during the visit of his International Centre
for Theatre Research to that continent in 1972-73, before presenting
two extremely successful productions to Western audiences--one in New
York City at La MaMa E.T.C., and one in Paris. John Heilpern gives an
account of the events surrounding the early development of the play in
his 1977 book 'Conference of the Birds: The Story of Peter Brook in
Africa'.

Sholeh Wolpe's stage adaptation of 'The Conference of the Birds' was
premiered by Inferno Theatre and Ubuntu Theater Project (now Oakland
Theater Project), in Oakland California in November 2018.


                           Illustrations
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Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Folio from an
illustrated Persian manuscript dated c.1600. Paintings by Habiballah
of Sava (active ca. 1590-1610), in ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and
silver on paper, dimensions 25,4 x 11,4 cm.

File:"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-tair
(Language of the Birds) MET DT227734.jpg
File:"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-tair
(Language of the Birds) MET DT227735.jpg
File:"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-tair
(Language of the Birds) MET DT227736.jpg
File:"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-tair
(Language of the Birds) MET DT227737.jpg


                         In popular culture
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ARTE France will launch '30 Birds', an upcoming puzzle video game
inspired by Persian art and 'The Conference of the Birds'. Set in the
magical city of The Lanterns, the player takes on the role of Zig, a
female detective assigned to track down an internationally wanted
criminal known as "The Scientist", who is also the prime suspect in
the kidnapping of the city's patron bird goddess, Simurgh. For Zig to
both apprehend The Scientist and rescue Simurgh, she must recruit the
eponymous thirty birds while solving complex puzzles along the way.


                              See also
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*Language of the birds
*Panentheism
*'Parlement of Foules'
*Persian literature
*'The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim'
*'The Seven Valleys' (Baháʼí Faith)


                              Sources
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* .
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                           External links
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*[https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/blog/cultural-cross-sections/attar-sufi-poet-and-master-rumi-sholeh-wolpe
Attar, the Sufi, the poet], World Literature Today
*Bird Parliament Fitzgerald translation, at archive.org.
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/bp/index.htm Abridged Edward
FitzGerald translation of Attar's 'Conference of the Birds']
*
[http://www.seriousseekers.com/Literature%20Poetry%20Thought/sample_lit_poet_thought_8.htm
Selection of Attar and related poets' poetry]
*
[http://www.tloneditions.com/Ezequiel_Vinao_Simurgh_introduction.html
Simurgh: A modern musical rendering of Attar's allegorical tale]
*
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100429160137/http://www.fiveartscentre.org/pf06.php
'Conference of the Birds', an opera by Johan Othman and libretto by
William Radice]
* [http://ganjoor.net/attar/manteghotteyr/aghazm/ Persian text of 'The
Conference of Birds', with recitation in Persian by members of the
Chamekhan Group.]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=589&v=QwkbxtgrC6g
Presentation of 'The Canticle of the Birds', Diane de Sellier Éditeur,
2013]


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