QI BAISHI (1863-1957)

In 1948, Qi Baishi, aged 88, dedicated this painting to Mr. Du Heng (1908-1965), the father of the present owner. Du Heng, sobriquet Gan Tang, native of Shaanxi provenance, came from a renowned scholarly family. His grandfather Wei Cheng was a medical doctor; his father Chong Hua was an educator with upright and virtuous character. Chong Hua followed Kuomintang enthusiasist Yu Youren and joined the revolution, but returned home to continue teaching after the victory of the party.
Du Heng was a gifted son and continued his predecessors' great achievement to serve the people. Du entered a teaching college when he was 15 to further his studies in politics and economics at the China Public Academy in Shanghai. Upon graduation at the age of 22, Du returned to his hometown to teach at his alma mater. In 1933, he began to serve in Kuomintang.