I Am Calm like a Mirror

CHINA; Qing dynasty

The thoughtful translation of this seal, “I Am Calm like a Mirror” is extracted from the poem Long Xi Xing, written by Lu Ji of the Jin dynasty (265–420). This piece is considered particularly rare because seals of such a large size were not often created for anything outside of official government use. Carved in a style that is clean and direct, the seal embraces the spirit of a Chan practitioner, exhibiting the most impassioned and satisfying aspects of life.
Zhuanyu was also known as Rangshan or Lingyun. A Chan monk of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), he was a native of Hangzhou, Zhejiang. He renounced at the age of 17 at Jingci Temple in Zhejiang. Well-versed in academia, Zhuanyu was equally polished in the arts, particularly in the areas of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving. A close friend of monk Mingzhong Daheng at West Lake, the two organized a poetry society and occasionally carved seals together.