Detachment from Appearances

TAIWAN

In the context of the Diamond Sutra, the idea of non-attachment to form is directed toward Bodhisattvas and the act of giving; specifically, a Bodhisattva should remain detached even from charitable acts, as to avoid being inhibited from seeing the real truth and obtaining incalculable merit.
In this seal, which appears lively and animated, the square character frames are engraved with seemingly effortless technique. Naturally mottled lines and a perfectly broken edge are reminiscent of clay seals from the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). The strokes are engraved with the ideal amount of pressure, and the lines link together with charm.
A prominent figure in the development of seal engraving in Taiwan, Li Damu was formerly known as Du and had a nickame of Du Weng. He was skilled in ink painting, calligraphy, and seal engraving, and was deeply influenced by the creative seal styles of Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi.