“Amitabha Buddha” in Seal Script

Qi Baishi (personal name Huang), a native of Xiangtan in Hunan, studied woodcarving at 20 and painting and calligraphy at 27. After 60 he was influenced by Chen Shizeng (Hengke) and specialized in “sketching ideas” bird-and-flower painting. He also excelled at calligraphy, early being gifted in the styles of Li Yong, He Shaoji, Jin Nong, and Zheng Banqiao (Xie). Later he also was devoted to engraved stele calligraphy of the Qin, Han, Wei, and Northern Dynasties, his brushwork with a unique style. This stele script work in 4 large characters for “Amitabha Buddha” was donated by Mr. Lin Tsung-yi. The characters are strong and solid with mature and powerful brushwork with great momentum. The inscription states Qi did it for the monk Zhaiteng.