名稱：人間福報
尺寸：28 x 15 x 16 cm
重量：950 g

     作品靈感起於藝術家身陷囹圄之時，懷抱重生希望的心境與感懷。自西元2014年初開始創作，歷時3年，期間不惜玉石材料，在2016年10月完成時，留下的是1/10全石的精華所在。基底玉石恰似臺灣形狀，猶如孕育藝術家自我的土地；蓮花與蝴蝶的構圖、造型，則訴說著深切的寓意和情感，三者恰好融合，成就內外皆美的作品。藝術家依著深淺色彩，將翡翠鏤空透雕，築成輕盈蜿蜒的荷葉動態，承載泛出紫光的綻放花朵，猶如隨風飄動的帶葉蓮花。花葉上停留著翩翩蝴蝶，花瓣上也有玉蟬相伴，花心則包覆著微笑佛陀，整體構圖，彷彿清風輕撫的涼夏，帶來自由，活力又絢爛的時刻。
 
     蓮花，是玉雕藝術常見的題材，除了冰清玉潔的質感相投之外，在此作品之中，更蘊含諸多寓意：一則以「清蓮」同音「清廉」，古時即以「一品清蓮」，比喻生性高潔，為官清廉之人；二則「荷」諧音「和」，具有以和為貴、和氣祥和的意義；三則是蓮花與佛法的深刻因緣。《維摩經‧佛國品》云：「不著世間如蓮花，常善入於空寂行。」蓮花生於淤泥，卻綻放於夏季的水上，不染熱氣塵埃，對比於世人面對多不勝數的種種煩惱，或能透過修行與自性智慧，像蓮花一樣，達到清淨無礙的境界。作品的蓮花心內，佛陀自在安住，微笑以對，主要意指利益眾生的「菩提心」。《華嚴經》曰：「菩提心者，猶如一切佛法種子。」世間雖有各種磨難，但發心而為，正面應對，既是成佛之心，也是修行的基礎。
   
     除了蓮花之外，精細鏤空的荷葉上，還停留了5隻飛舞的蝴蝶。優雅美麗的蝴蝶，一直是受到歡迎的創作題材，在此作品中，更表達了破繭而出的生命力，以及新生的希望與能量。當然，吉祥的寓意也不可少，例如「蝴」與「福」諧音，象徵福氣滿滿，五福臨門；「蝶」與「耋」同音，比喻耄耋之年，長壽無疆等等。蓮花花瓣鏤空的雕琢，呈現輕透質感，而蟬的點綴，則呼應著生命力與新生的寓意。

When the artist lost his freedom, he got inspired and then embraced the mood of a new life and hope and expresses his feelings. Created in the beginning of 2014, it took three years to complete this creation, which the creator spared no expense to collect the jade materials as many as possible in that period of time. Until the completion in October 2016, just a tenth of the jade materials, the best part of jade, was remained for the work. The jade used as the foundation looks like the shape of Taiwan, appearing to be the motherland that nurtures the artist. The composition and style of lotus and butterfly tell a story of sincere significance and feeling. These three parts harmonize with each others just right and create an extraordinary artwork that displays both internal and external aesthetics. Based on the dark and light color shades, the creator utilizes the openwork carving method to create the jadeite. Upon completion, the jadeite creation showcases the lithe and winding style of lotus leaves and carries a flower blooming with purple light, like the lotus with leaf bobbing in the wind. The entire composition of work, such as a butterfly in flight and resting on the floral leaf, a jade cicada staying next to the petal and a smiling Buddha statue sitting on the pistil, creates a liberal, vital and dazzling moment, like feeling the cool breeze stroking your face in the cool summer time.

Lotus is a subject matter used frequently in the art field of jade carving, which reflects its texture is as pure clear as ice and crystal clean as jade, but it contains more implications of this work. Firstly, "blue lotus" in Chinese are homophonous words with the term for "honest". In ancient times, "the highest-rank blue lotus" is used as a metaphor that a government official has the noble character and is an honest servant. Secondly, "lotus" in Chinese "He" is homophonous with the term for "harmony", which symbolizes "making peace the top priority" and "amiability and peace". Thirdly, lotus reflects its deep cause and condition connecting with Dharma. One gatha in the First Chapter of Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra says, "As the lotus, born in the water, is not defiled by water, so the Ascetic One, like the lotus, dwells in emptiness." Lotus, born of mud, grows and blooms on the surface of lakes in the summer time, but being unsullied by heat or dust. Compared to facing up to the countless worries, people around the world might devote themselves to spiritual cultivation and their intrinsic natures to achieve a realm that is purified of defiling illusion and unhampered, like what the lotus does so. The heart of lotus in this work displayed the Buddha feels at ease and settled and smiles all the time, mainly means how the Bodhicitta benefits sentient beings. "The Bodhicitta is like all the seeds of Dharma, (*note #2)" says the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. Though there are various kinds of hardships in the human world, but when you act with the Bodhicitta and respond with a positive attitude and that will be the foundation of your spiritual cultivation.

Apart from the lotus, there are five more butterflies, modeling as a flight shape, setting on the exquisitely openwork-carving lotus leaves. The elegant and beautiful butterfly is always a popular subject matter of creation. In this work, it showcases much more the vitality of eclosion and the hope and energy of a new life. And this creation contains the auspicious implication for sure. For example, "butterfly" in Chinese "Hu", sounds like the term "fortune" in Chinese, symbolizing the full blessing and five blessings descending upon people's home. Also, "butterfly" in Chinese is homophonous with the word for "aged", which means the octogenarian age, longevity, and more. The petal of lotus, engraved with an openwork style, expresses its crystal clear texture. The decoration of a cicada reflects the vitality and new life.