The Radiance of Saha: The Zen Legacy Embodied in a Sculptural Artifact

The emergence of Sculptural Artifact

The word "Suo Po" originates from the Buddhist term "Suo Po World", meaning "endurance". Chen Guangzu hopes to convey to everyone who is currently facing life's challenges that suffering is an inevitable part of life, but there is always a ray of light that can illuminate our hearts.

The design inspiration for the "Lotus Light Zen" pendant comes from an encounter during a rainstorm. When Chen Guangzu was seeking shelter from the rain, he saw the monks of Linggu Temple collecting rainwater in blue porcelain plates. The water near the candles shone with a golden-brown glow. This moment of enlightenment made him wonder: "If scriptures flow in the light and Buddha statues sit calmly amid the smoke of incense, what an extraordinary experience it would be?"

1.Buddha Statues: The Persistence from 3D Printing to Traditional Clay Modeling

In the initial stage of the design, the focus was on the production of the Buddha statues. The team attempted to enhance efficiency through 3D printing technology, while Chen Guangzu took his luggage and went to Suzhou. At a village by the Taihu Lake, he met Master Zhou, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage. He always adhered to the seven methods of clay sculpture. Master Zhou imparted the principles of "one form, two postures, three garments": the right hand of the Buddha statue should form the Earth-saving Seal, with the angle of the fingertips precisely to three degrees, to demonstrate the power of "subduing demons"; the arc of the left hand forming the Meditation Seal should conform to human ergonomics, making the viewer's state of mind peaceful.

Over a period of three months, Chen Guangzu's fingertips developed thick calluses. He revised the expression of the Buddha's face, which was originally compassionate, seventeen times. Finally, he created a seated Buddha with the words "Eyes observing the nose, nose observing the heart" on its face. The gentle light in his eyebrows gradually merged with the works of his grandfather from his childhood memories.

2. Lampshade: The divine radiance forged in a 1300°C kiln

The design of the backlight panel is more complex. Chen Guangzu was not seeking dazzling light, but rather a texture reminiscent of "Buddhist light". He tried glass and acrylic, until he found an old master in Yixing who was proficient in the production of gradient glazes.

The craftsmen applied red and gold glazes layer by layer on the porcelain base and then fired it at a temperature of 1300 degrees Celsius. In the center of the porcelain plate, the characters "Buddha" and the lotus patterns are mainly in red, gradually spreading outwards to a warm golden color, and the outermost edge is a pale moon white. When powered on, the light spreads outwards from the center, just like the Buddha's light emanating from the depths of the temple during the morning and evening bell sounds.

3. Incense Burner: The Dynamic Art of Observing Smoke and Cultivating Mindfulness Inspired by Zen Buddhism

The placement of the incense burner sparked the most intense debate. The young designer argued that the incense burner should be placed right above, while Chen Guangzu insisted on positioning it in the upper left corner: "Look at the incense burners in Buddhist temples. They are always placed on the left side of the Buddha statue. When the smoke rises, it should first guide the devotees' eyes to the Buddha statue, then to the smoke, and finally to their own hearts."

He conducted the reverse flow incense experiment, observing that white smoke rose from the incense holder and gracefully passed over the "Buddha" character and the lotus pattern, eventually converging into a cascading waterfall in the warm light - this was what he envisioned as "inspiration through observing the smoke".

4. Lighting: 2700K (sunrise temperature)

During the color temperature calibration process, the team had a heated debate. Some argued for the complexity of cold white light, while Chen Guangzu took the samples and retreated to a guesthouse near Qixia Temple. At four o'clock in the morning, he was stationed outside the temple gate, watching the first rays of dawn gently caressing the prayer flags. The warm light reminded him of the compassionate gaze of the Bodhisattva.

"2700K, that's the temperature," he said, pointing to the reading on the spectrometer. "This is the light that illuminates the scriptures at sunrise, enough to warm the soul."

In the autumn of 2020, "Lotus Lantern Zen" made its debut. It is 33 centimeters tall, symbolizing "thirty-three days", which represents the path of spiritual cultivation; its length of 30 centimeters implies "completeness"; and its width of 12 centimeters cleverly echoes "the twelve causes and conditions". Some people regard it as a piece of decoration, while Chen Guangzu sees it as a "digital meditation room" for modern people. Working professionals who stay late at their desks, light it up and watch the slowly descending smoke beside the "Buddha" character, might unconsciously recall the peaceful times when their grandmother chanted scriptures in their childhood. Students preparing for exams, touching the folds of the Buddha's robe, seem to be able to hear their own heartbeats gradually calming down.

This "Lavender Lamp Zen" that embodies tradition and innovation has become a serene sanctuary on the desks of countless people. In an era dominated by the torrent of information, Chen Guangzu and his Shope Culture, through this dazzling lamp, have demonstrated the wisdom of thousands of years of Buddhism, still being able to illuminate every soul yearning for tranquility in modern life.