法界圖記叢髓錄 1.23

1.23

The record of the Venerable Farong says: "'Combining the poem into a single seal' means that a single vermilion line joins all the black characters together to form a round seal; hence it is called 'combining the poem.' Question: Are the black characters written first and then the vermilion line drawn, or is the vermilion line drawn first and then the black characters written? Answer: Both are correct. Writing first and drawing later has the meaning of bringing principle into accordance with phenomena; drawing first and writing later has the meaning of bringing phenomena into accordance with principle. Although Master Yan made seventy-three seals, he only wished to manifest the meaning of this single seal. The preceptor Xiang, having deeply grasped his master's intent, therefore made only this one fundamental seal."