Song Yu, whose original name was Song Shengmin, was also known as Zhushu Thatched Cottage, Master of Zhushu Xuan, Yehe Yishi, and Heishuishanren. Born in Heilongjiang in 1947, his ancestral home is Xinmin, Liaoning. Born in a family of Shili and scholarly people, he developed a passion for music, chess, calligraphy, painting, dance, writing, and calligraphy. He was inspired by the calligraphy style of his father Yan, Liu, and Zhao. In 1960, he studied in the Chinese Department of Heilongjiang University, and then furthered his studies in Shenyang Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts.