Wang Geyi (1897-1988), named Xian, courtesy name Qizhi, was born in Haimen City, Jiangsu Province. At the age of 16, he went to Nantong to study. He was good at poetry, epigraphy, calligraphy and painting. At the age of 27, he was introduced by Zhu Zongyuan and went to Shanghai to become Wu Changshuo's teacher. He also learned calligraphy, painting and seal cutting from Wu and became his disciple. He once served as professor at Shanghai Xinhua University of the Arts, Soochow University, Changming Art College, professor and director of the Department of Traditional Chinese Painting at Shanghai Art College. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as vice president and honorary president of the Shanghai Painting Academy, director of the Chinese Artists Association, vice chairman of the Shanghai branch of the Artists Association and Calligraphers Association, vice president of Xiling Seal Society, and librarian of the Shanghai Museum of Literature and History. He was a member of the third, fourth and fifth sessions of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He visited Japan three times and visited Singapore in 1985, giving lectures and holding art exhibitions to promote foreign cultural exchanges.