Liu Hongtian, the master of Xuedi Zhai, was born in Qixia, Shandong Province in May 1947. At the age of 5, he began studying law with a private school teacher in his village, and later graduated from Beijing Normal University, majoring in calligraphy. He studied under Mr. Ouyang Zhongshi and Mr. Sun Qifeng. He is a member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, a member of the Creation Committee of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, a professor of the Calligraphy Training Center of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, a director of the Shandong Calligraphers Association, and an honorary chairman of the Yantai Calligraphers Association.