Reading Sutras to Repay the Kindness of Ancestors

CHINA

Based on the inscription, it is known that this seal was carved by Yi Da’an for Qu Peilin, and was given to him alongside a painting of the Buddha. In addition to repaying the kindness of his ancestors, the seal text implies extending blessings to all sentient beings, as well as presenting devotion to the Triple Gem and practices of meditation and cultivation of wisdom.
Composed in Yishan style, this rather large seal displays features similar to that of Han works, such as clay seal scripts. However, the engraving style differs from the Yishan style with characters that were carved with a firm and steady knife.
Yi Da’an was originally named Tingxi and was also known as Jifu. An expert in calligraphy and seal engraving, he emulated the style of Huang Shiling, as well as that of ancient and clay seals. He was well-known for his unique seal composition and powerful carving skills.