Ding Fuzhi

CHINA, Zhejiang, Hangzhou

Ding Fuzhi was a seal engraver, calligrapher, and painter whose original name was Renyou. He was also known as Helu, among several other aliases.
One of the founders of the Xiling Seal Art Society, Ding’s seal engravings were modeled after ancient works and followed the either red or white character patterns with an elaborate and stable layout. His knifing skills were strong and powerful, exhibiting the spirit of the Eight Masters of Xiling. The side notations he used were delicate and concise, similar to those found on Wei steles. His collection of seal works is numerous and includes Seal of Helu Jushi, Precious Collection of Jian Garden, and Holding Peace.
Additionally, Ding was a skilled calligrapher and pioneered the usage of oracle script; he authored the written works, Couplets of Fortune Telling Oracle Scripts of Shang and Collections of Fortune Telling Oracle Scripts of Shang. He was also adept in the painting of flowers, vegetables, and fruits, particularly plums and pine trees. His painting entitled, Immense Longevity of the Buddha’s Life, created in 1946, is now kept at the Rongbaozhai in Beijing.