Zhao Shi

CHINA, Jiangsu, Suzhou

Zhao Shi, also known as Nidaoren or Guni, was a seal engraver from Changshu, Suzhou. Although he only attended school for three years, he eventually studied seal engraving under the famous artist Wu Changshuo. He became an outstanding student and mastered the seal engraving style of Yusang. Later in life, many students studied under Zhao including Deng Sanmu, Wang Datie, Zhou Meigu, and Pu Kangan.
In addition to seal engraving, Zhao was also an outstanding poet and calligrapher. His calligraphy is considered comparable to that of the scholar and artist Weng Tonghe. He amalgamated big seal script with the square-shaped small seal script to create lively works.
Zhao carved over 10,000 seals from materials such as ivory, copper, gold, and jade, with the majority in copper and jade. Shen Shiyou, a collector of ink stones, requested Wu Changshuo to write calligraphy on ink stones and Zhao Shi to engrave the characters. Their joint efforts were published in a four volume book entitled Ink Stone Print Collection of Shen. Zhao’s own publications include Seal Collection of Zhao Guni, Seal Collection of Nidaoren, and Poetry Collection of Nidaoren.
Buddhist themed seals carved by Zhao include Buddha Mind, Heart of Sakraditya, Worship of the Buddha by Xiaoyue, and Seed and Sumeru Vihara.