
White-character square seal
According to the Amitabha Sutra, there is a Buddha who is boundless in light and immeasurable in life. “Amitabha” is the Sanskrit word for “infinite light,” and thus this Buddha is named appropriately. As the Buddha of the Western Pure Land, Amitabha will receive all who chant his name in their vows to be reborn there.
This seal is spacious and broad in layout, with lines that are thick, heavy, and straight. All strokes are rounded at the turns and blade points are not detectable. The overall piece displays a full, rich style that is both sturdy and simple.
Zhao Gengshi, originally named Guangming, was an expert seal engraver from Linsen, Fujian. His works were based on Han seal styles, and integrated methods employed by Wu Changshuo. His written works include Compilation of Seal Carvings.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Calligraphy, page 288.