A 'HEART SUTRA' SOAPSTONE SEAL WITH MICROSCOPIC INSCRIPTION, 17TH CENTURY China. Of elongated rectangular form, the upper edges rounded, masterfully incised to one side in a very fine and almost microscopic calligraphy with an extract of the Heart Sutra. The slightly translucent stone of a pale celadon color with cloudy white inclusions.

Inscriptions: One side incised with an extract of the Heart Sutra. The seal face with 'Hai Nie'.

Provenance: British trade. One side with an illegible old label.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few small nicks and chips to the edges, and light surface scratches.

Weight: 78.8 g
Dimensions: Height 7.1 cm

The inscribed text is known as the Prajnaparamita sutra, or Heart Sutra, which was translated into Chinese in the 7th century by the pilgrim monk Xuanzang on the orders of Emperor Gaozong (reigned 649-683 AD). One of the principal scriptures of the Madhyamika school of Buddhism founded by the great Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna (c. 100-200 BC), the Heart Sutra expounds that through true wisdom, one may realize the emptiness of this world and so achieve Enlightenment.

The Heart Sutra, propagating total denial of the reality of the phenomenal world, is one of the most important Mahayana texts and became a popular script for copying, probably partly due to its brevity. Such copying had the dual function of serving as a calligraphic exercise and representing an act of devotion.

Literature comparison:
Compare a pair of soapstone seals with similar microscopic inscriptions, dated to the mid to late 17^th century, illustrated by Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, p. 84-85, no. 43.



十七世紀皂石雕刻《心經》
中國。長方體，上邊緣呈圓形，一側巧妙地刻有非常精細的《心經》摘錄。略帶半透明的淺青色石料，帶有白色絮狀物。

款識：海涅

來源：英國古玩交易，一面有難以辨認的舊標籤。
品相：狀況極好，輕微磨損，邊緣有小刻痕和磕損，表面有輕微劃痕。

重量：78.8 克
尺寸：高7.1 厘米

文獻比較：
比較一對十七世紀中至末期皂石印，有相近微小雕刻的款識，見Gerard Tsang和Hugh Moss，《Arts from the Scholar's Studio》，香港大學美術博物館，香港，1986年，頁84-85，編號43。