Tolerance as Vast as an Ocean, Heart as Pure as a Lotus

CHINA; Ming dynasty

The title of this seal consisting of ten characters implies that one should have the tolerance of an ocean that accepts everything, and a heart akin to the lotus, which remains untainted amid the questionable surroundings it grows within.
Han script style was employed in the cutting of the seal characters, which utilized calligraphic methods and a sinuous seal script. This particular work pioneered the use of short knife incisions to create deliberate scattered cuts that presented an interesting contrast, resulting in a clean and straightforward style.
Zhu Jian was a seal engraver of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) from Xuining (present day Anhui). He was also known as Xiuneng or Qiju. He conducted intensive research on ancient seals and seal scripts, and committed himself to traditional works.