Seals of Auspiciousness · 吉
1. 吉事有祥，大吉 2. 吉，安且吉兮 3. 吉象，吉祥
4. 吉人天相，大吉祥 5. 安吉，大吉延年 6. 吉虎，仁吉
Seals of Auspiciousness · 吉
The Blessings of “吉”
Selected Chinese leisure seals (闲章) are presented through bookmark forms (书签) in this group of works from XINYIN LIUNIAN® | 心印流年, bringing traditional seal impressions into a contemporary visual composition.
Everyone hopes for a life filled with happiness, peace and harmony.
In Chinese culture, the character “吉” (jí) carries meanings of good fortune, auspiciousness and blessing. Across generations, people have created phrases and expressions around “吉”, using language and seal impressions to convey hopes for a good and harmonious life.
Within XINYIN LIUNIAN® | 心印流年, I approach these traditional leisure seals not simply as historical objects, but as a living visual language. By selecting different seals centred on the character “吉” and its associated meanings, I rearrange them through contemporary composition and personal reflection.
Each seal carries its own phrase, form and cultural memory. Brought together, they allow a single idea — 吉 — to unfold through different voices and layers of meaning.
1. 吉事有祥，大吉
Jí shì yǒu xiáng, dà jí
Good things come with signs of blessing. Great auspiciousness follows.
2. 吉，安且吉兮
Jí, ān qiě jí xī
A classical expression of peace, harmony and auspiciousness.
3. 吉象，吉祥
Jí xiàng, jí xiáng
Auspicious signs; good fortune and blessing.
4. 吉人天相，大吉祥
Jí rén tiān xiàng, dà jí xiáng
Good people are blessed by Heaven; may great auspiciousness accompany them.
5. 安吉，大吉延年
Ān jí, dà jí yán nián
Peace and good fortune; may great blessings accompany a long life.
6. 吉虎，仁吉
Jí hǔ, rén jí
The auspicious tiger and the virtue of benevolence — strength brought into relationship with goodness and blessing.
From Traditional Seal to Contemporary Expression
These seals were traditionally created to carry words, wishes, reflections and cultural meanings within a very small physical space. In XINYIN LIUNIAN® | 心印流年, I explore how these inherited forms can enter a contemporary artistic context.
Rather than treating the seal only as a signature, authentication mark or decorative addition, I select and recompose different impressions around a central character, idea or meaning. Through this process, the seal moves from a supporting role toward an independent visual and artistic language.
In this group of works, “吉” becomes more than a single character. Its different forms and expressions create a constellation of meanings — blessing, peace, harmony, kindness, longevity and hope.
Each impression carries something from the past, yet its meaning continues to unfold in the present.
Tiny seals, yet infinite meaning.
方寸之间，千年之思。
Through the selection and recomposition of traditional leisure seals, each composition becomes a dialogue — between past and present, cultural memory and lived experience, and between eras and souls.
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