Zhang Daqian (1899-1983) was originally named Zhengquan, but later changed his name to Yuán (yuán), with the courtesy name Ji Yuan, the nickname Daqian, the alias Daqian Jushi, a native of Xialiba, and his living name Dafengtang. Zhang Daqian was born in Neijiang, Sichuan, and his ancestral home was Panyu, Guangdong Province. He was born on May 10, 1899 (the first day of the fourth lunar month) in Anliangli (Xiangbizuiyantangwan), a suburb of Neijiang County, Sichuan Province. A scholarly family. Legend has it that before his birth, his mother dreamed of an old man sending a little ape into his house at night, so when he was 21 years old, he changed his name to Yuan, also known as Yuan and Ji Yuan. Later he became a monk with the Buddhist name Daqian, so the world also called him "Daqian layman".
00Zhang Daqian is the most legendary traditional Chinese painting master in the Chinese painting circle in the 20th century. He knows everything from painting, calligraphy, seal cutting, and poetry. In his early days, he concentrated on studying ancient calligraphy and painting, especially in landscape painting. After living overseas, he combined the style of painting with craftsmanship and calligraphy, and integrated heavy colors and ink, especially splashed ink and splashed colors, creating a new artistic style. His academic methods are worthy of reference by painters who are trying to move from tradition to modernity.
00When Zhang Daqian was young, his family was poor. He once studied painting with his mother, sister, and brother and laid the foundation for painting. His ancestor once served as the magistrate of Neijiang County. Zhang Daqian and his youngest daughter later returned to the fields to farm, study, write poetry and paint, and lived a leisurely pastoral life. It has been passed down to Zhang Daqian for the tenth generation. His father Zhang Zhongfa, named Huaizhong, and his mother's name was Zeng Youzhen. Zhang Zhongfa and his wife gave birth to nine boys and two girls, all of whom were highly educated. His brother Zhang Zhenglan is also a famous modern painter. When he was six years old, he started reading and literacy with his sister and brother. At the age of nine, he officially started learning painting and calligraphy under the guidance of his mother and sister. His sister Qiongzhi was good at painting flowers and birds, and had a great influence on him when he was young. Daqian has been very smart since he was a child, so he has made rapid progress in painting. A ten-year-old child can help his mother draw patterns, draw more complex flowers and characters, and write neatly. His fourth brother, Zhang Wenxiu, taught in a private school in Zizhong, so Daqian also studied ancient books from his fourth brother. After school, he often went to Zizhong with his brother and visited scenic spots, cultivating his aesthetic awareness of nature. The good family cultural atmosphere played a very good role in enlightening him and also laid a solid foundation for him in Chinese studies. Later he studied at Chongqing Qiujing Middle School. When he was 18 years old, Zhang Daqian went to Japan to study with his brother Zhang Shanzi, learning dyeing and weaving, as well as painting. At the age of 20, Zhang Daqian returned to China from Japan and lived in Shanghai. He studied calligraphy and poetry under the famous calligraphers Zeng Nongbeard and Li Ruiqing successively. Then due to marriage problems, he became a monk and became a monk for more than a hundred days. After returning to secular life, he took his Buddhist name "Daqian" and devoted himself to the creation of calligraphy and painting.