Yang Zhongzi

CHINA, Jiangsu, Nanjing

Yang Zhongzi, originally named Yang Zuxi, was a seal engraver, calligrapher, and musician who was also known as Yangzi or Yisu Daoren among several other aliases. At 16, he studied in France and majored in chemical engineering. He then went to Geneva, Switzerland and studied music. After returning to China, Yang continued his musical education and later became president of the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and Chongqing National School of Music, as well as a professor at Nanjing Academy of Art and the director of the Nanjing City Artifacts Committee.
Yang was an expert in oracle bone and bronze scripts, the latter of which he used on most of his seals. The majority of the seals used by the painter Xu Beihong were created by Yang. Also a skilled calligrapher, he scripted works for stele inscriptions and was influenced by the various styles of ancient dynasties.
His Buddhist seals include Cultivation of Both Merit and Wisdom, a white-character square seal, and another square seal entitled Difficult to Meet and Depart.