Homage to Amitabha Buddha

CHINA

Chanting “Namo Amituofo” is a way of paying homage to Amitabha Buddha. The act of reciting the six-syllable name and vowing to be reborn in the Western Pure Land was strongly advocated by monk Huiyuan during the Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420). In addition of aspirations for rebirth, reciting the Buddha’s name is an effective means of concentration and contemplation.
This six-character seal is comprised of an asymmetrical layout with an open and spacey top half and a more compacted bottom. Overall, the character structures consist of strokes that are horizontally thin and vertically thick. The interplay of positive and negative space creates a strong contrast, but results in a well-balanced piece. Around the border, an appropriate amount of broken edges is evocative of the strong and sturdy cutting skill employed by the seal engraver.
Deng Sanmu was originally named Juchu and was also known as Shijie, among several other nicknames. A native of Shanghai, he was skilled in seal engraving, calligraphy, and poetry. Deng was known to have carved over 5,000 seals throughout his lifetime and made outstanding contributions to the traditional art of seal engraving.