Ding Foyan

CHINA, Shandong, Longkou; Qing dynasty

Originally named Shiyi, Ding Foyan was a calligrapher and seal engraver from Huangxian county (present day Longkou, Shandong). Since his youth, he was known to be clever and fond of studying, eventually traveling to Japan to study at Hosei University in Tokyo.
He authored several books including Introduction to Ancient Seals, Introduction to Ancient Ceramics, Continuation on Character Elaboration, and Fine Points in Literature Elaboration. Ding’s seal carvings emulated works found in the Qin (220–207 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasties and he was highly skilled in oracle script and bell-cauldron script. He and Qing dynasty (1644–1911) seal engraver, Wu Changshuo were referred to as Southern Wu, Northern Ding. Ding’s seal works include Disciple of Buddha, Buddha’s Words, An Ordinary Person from the East China Sea, and A Person from Donglai.