Qiao Dazhuang

CHINA, Beijing

Qiao Dazhuang, whose original name was Qiao Zengqu and was also known as Bowai, was a seal engraver and calligrapher. His ancestors were from Huayang (present day Chengdu, Sichuan), but he was born in Beijing. He was a graduate of Peking University and was well-read in classical literature, history, poetry, and Buddhist literature. He was also fluent in French and was once employed in the Translation Academy. He served several positions in the government and taught as a professor at various universities in China and later, Taiwan.
His calligraphy and seal carvings were highly regarded, and he was reputed alongside Qi Baishi, another renowned artist of the time, being referred to as South Qiao, North Qi. Qiao’s seal carving was self-taught, but after studying various schools, he developed his own knifing skill that conveyed a sense of strength and equanimity. His Buddhist seal artwork, Seeing the Buddha When the Flower Opens, exhibits characters that are smooth, flowing, and round, expressing a sense of solidity and elegance. His calligraphic piece, Six-Character Couplets, is now kept at the Lu Xun Museum in Beijing. Qiao also authored several books including Literature of Bowai, Poetry Anthology of Bowai Building, Seal Collection of Qiao Dazhuang, and Calligraphy Collection of Qiao Dazhuang.