Amitabha Buddha

CHINA

This rotating-character seal illustrating Amitabha Buddha’s name differs from most seal works in that it employs regular script as opposed to seal script. Appearing in a vertically-formatted straight line, the four red characters of this piece were carved in an apparent rush, seemingly finished in a single breath.
The artist, Luo Shuzhong, blatantly refused to abide by traditional rules and sought changes and innovations based on his knowledge of the Six Categories of Chinese characters. His seal calligraphy originated from his study of tablet inscriptions of the Northern Dynasties (386–581), taking after the flow and unrestrained beauty of the styles, while displaying the sturdy and rigorous strictness of standards. The carving method used in this particular seal was swift knife, with strong and clear lines. An attempt in restraint was applied without the use of arbitrary strokes, and the style exudes unique characteristics of sincerity and simplicity, which are child-like and primitive.
Luo Shuzhong was originally named Ying, with an alias of Shuzhong. He was born in Hainan, Guangdong to a family of distinguished Qing dynasty (1644–1911) officials. He was skilled in poetry and calligraphy as a young child, his calligraphy influenced by his study of inscriptions from the Northern Dynasties. Having learned seal engraving under Ye Tuian, Luo integrated his calligraphic skills into his seal cutting method. Later turning to the swift knife cutting technique, he developed a sturdy yet playful style. He studied Buddhism diligently in his later years.