Mr. Ma Jichuan, named Hengyu and Jichuan, was born on December 21, 1892 (the second day of November in the Renchen year) into an ordinary peasant family in Dayulinzhao Village, Zaoqiang County, Hebei Province. Died in 1959 at the age of 67.
In 1906, the 32nd year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, he came to Beijing from his hometown alone to make a living. He apprenticed at Zhulin Zhai and Zhushi Zhai to learn the art of mounting. Because of his talent, diligence and studiousness, he mastered the unique skill of mounting calligraphy and paintings, which was highly appreciated by his master.
In 1919, the eighth year of the Republic of China, Mr. Jichuan founded "Yuchi Shanfang" in the Changchun Guild Hall on South Xinhua Street, Liulichang, Beijing, specializing in the mounting of calligraphy and painting, as well as the business of calligraphy and painting. Due to Mr. Jichuan's exquisite craftsmanship and the fact that Yuchi Shanfang pays attention to quality and excellence in the mounting of calligraphy and paintings, and will never deliver goods if the quality requirements are not met, it has won a good reputation. Dignitaries, celebrities, calligraphers and painters often visit Yuchi Shanfang. Yu Youren, Zhang Xueliang, Zhang Daqian, Xu Beihong, Qi Baishi, etc. are all regular customers in the store. A precious hand-scroll painting by Zhang Xueliang was exposed to moisture for a long time, and the painting turned lead, and the white-faced person turned into a black face. After being renovated and framed by Yuchi Mountain House, it was restored to its original state. The Song and Yuan paintings collected by Yu Youren fell into pieces over time and also Please ask Mr. Jichuan to process and repair it.
Yuchi Shanfang is also the cradle of cultivating framer talents. Mr. Jichuan imparted exquisite skills to his apprentices without reservation, allowing the traditional art of framer to be spread and promoted. Over the past thirty years, Yuchi Shanfang has cultivated a number of famous calligraphy and painting mounting and calligraphy and painting connoisseurs. Representatives include Mr. Wang Yikun (also known as Yuping), a senior expert in calligraphy and painting appraisal at the Palace Museum, and Mr. Wang Yikun (also known as Yuping), a senior expert in calligraphy and painting appraisal at the National Library of China. Mounting expert Mr. Han Kuizhan, northern style mounting expert Mr. Jiang Haicang who has mounted paintings for Zhang Daqian for many years, Hong Kong antique calligraphy and painting appraisal expert Mr. Zhang Dingchen, and mounting famous experts Mr. Liu Jinshan and Mr. Zhang Jinke, etc.
Mr. Jichuan is a generous, upright and helpful person. Although he has experienced ups and downs in his life, he always puts "righteousness" first. He pays attention to credibility in business and values ??righteousness over profits, which has won unanimous recognition in the industry; he is generous to friends and spends money without asking for anything in return. At that time, all relatives and friends from far and near who came to Beijing to join him were provided with food and accommodation, and he also provided guarantees for finding jobs, which won him a lot of praise. Supported by relatives and friends; he has no hesitation in protecting precious cultural relics. Mr. Jichuan has spent many times on private recycling of precious calligraphy and painting cultural relics to prevent cultural relics from being destroyed or lost overseas. In 1947, he sent six precious calligraphy and painting pieces to Submitted to the Palace Museum, including five hand scrolls and an album leaf. (Note: It is recorded in the "Cultural Relics Entered Collection in 1947" in the memorabilia on the official website of the Palace Museum, but Yuchi Shanfang is mistakenly written as Guchi Shanfang.