All Are Joyful

CHINA; Qing dynasty

At the end of most Buddhist sutras, there is an excerpt that says, “After listening to the Buddha’s words, all are joyful and will pursue what is taught.” This quote is in reference to the Buddha’s disciples, who, after hearing the Dharma, were filled with joy from the heart and vowed to practice what they learned.
In typical Zhe style, the four characters of this square seal are arranged evenly and appear well-balanced. The fine details of the script are chiseled, with breaks in the knife cuts and carved lines. Because the lines are not completely connected, they lend themselves to a richness that emphasizes each individual character.
Chen Hongshou, also known as Zigong or Mansheng, was a seal engraver, calligrapher, and painter from Qiantang, Zhejiang (present day Hangzhou). Adept in poetry, writing, calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving, he was considered one of the Eight Masters of Xiling. Together with Chen Yuzhong, they were known as the Two Chens of Qiantang.