Yang Ruxie

CHINA, Shanghai; Qing dynasty

Yang Ruxie was a calligrapher, painter, and seal engraver from Huating (present day Songjiang, Shanghai) with a given name Yunqing and an alias of Duankui. His calligraphy was modeled after that of Mi Fu and Dong Qichang, having acquired the spiritual essences of their styles while expressing his own graceful and elegant taste.
Yang collected rubbings from ancient steles and enjoyed creating poetry and music. He was skilled in painting landscapes, particularly blossoming plums. His written works include Poetry Anthology of Chongjian Grass Hut and Drafts of Huayuzhai.
Yang’s seal engraving style did not follow any particular style; but although he was not an expert, he was able to engrave smoothly with powerful, elegant, and distinct knifing strokes. His publication, Appraisal of Seals from Chongyatang compiled the seals he carved. His Buddhist seal include True Buddhas Come Not from Outside and Dharma Gate of Non-Duality. The latter was a white-character square seal made with a calm, steady hand, exhibiting knifing skills of the Zhejiang school.