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Qi Baishi. Photo by Zheng Jingkang on

Top 10 Facts about Qi Baishi

Qi Baishi was born in a peasant family from Xiangtan, Hunan. He lived with his parents, grandparents, and eight younger sisters and brothers,

While growing up, he came across a Chinese painting manual, which sparked his painting interest.

Qi Baishi was married to two wives, Chen Chunjun and Hu Baozhu. He bore twelve children with both wives. Chen Chinjun had five children, while Hu Baozhu had seven children.

He was one of the great traditional Chinese painters whose paintings reflected the Chinese traditions with no political influence. Additionally, he was very professional with his painting work, and he came up with his unique style, the watercolor works.

Get to learn more about the interesting life of Qi Baishi in these top 10 facts about him.

1. Qi Baishi was self-taught

The Mustard Seed Garden Painting Manual. Photo outsourced from

Qi was schooled for less than a year; due to illness, and he dropped out of school. He saw a Chinese manual, “manual of mustard seed garden,” which interested him in painting and art.

Qi’s interest grew enormously, and he mastered the craving for seals and calligraphy. He met many mentors who greatly influenced his painting skills through his painting journey.

Some of the artists who influenced him are; Zhu Da and artist Xu Wei, which made him polish his skills. He was popularly known for his style of painting watercolor works.

2. He was a famous Chinese painter

Zhou Enlai at the art exhibition of Qi Baishi. Photo Outsourced from

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Qi was one of the well-known Chinese artists. He grew up in a peasant family, but this did not hinder him from pursuing his interest in painting.

He was notable for his watercolor works’ whimsical and often playful style. Most of his paintings depicted Chinese tradition.

Qi’s works are now found in several famous museums, including the museum of art of people in Moscow and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. His works now are the most expensive ever sold at auctions

3. Qi Baishi was trained as a carpenter in his youth

Qi Baishi dropped out of school due to illness. He was too weak to work when he became a carpenter.

He worked as a carpenter to establish himself financially. As a carpenter, he showed his creativity; he could carve figures of animals, woodblock prints, and sniff-boxes.

As he worked as a carpenter, he taught himself to paint using a Qin dynasty manual. As his painting skills interest grew immensely, he found mentors who taught him painting and poetry. This helped him polish his skills.

4. Most of his paintings had a strong emphasis on tradition

When many Chinese artists were influenced by western culture, he stayed true to the Chinese traditions and ordinary things of life.

Qi’s painting style was natural, which influenced artistic and political collectors to purchase his work. Most of his works were free from any political influence and allusion.

According to the Confucian standards, it states that the ability of a painter to stay true to his work was honorable. Qi’s works flourished due to his appreciation of common things in life and a strong mindset.

5. He spent the most time in Beijing 

When he was 28 years, he became a student of famous artist Hu Qinyuan, and he began to study Chinese painting Guohua. He arrived in Beijing in 1917.

While he was in Beijing, he stayed devoted to painting and created his special style; the Red flowers and inky leaf Genre. He also had a series of works called “The crap,” famously known for their simplicity.

When he was 60 years, he was given the post of professor of painting at the Beijing University of Arts.

6. He was interested in depicting smaller things

Leaves and Insect painting by Qi Baishi. Photo outsourced from

Qi Baishi was commonly known for his simplicity in painting and focusing on a natural appearance. He liked painting small things like birds, frogs, peaches, insects, leaves, cramps, and shrimp. All of these paintings portrayed a sense of elegance and innovation.

He had more panting interested shrimps and water surrounding the shrimps until he became an expert in painting them.

7. Qi Baishi was the first chairman of the union of Chinese artists

His outstanding painting work made him noticed by the ministry of culture, and he was appointed as the chairman of chine artists. After his appointment, he represented a continued commitment to traditional cultural values in revolutionary China.

In 1953 he was given the title “peoples artist” by the central cultural ministry and became chairman of the Chinese painting research society of Beijing and the Chinese artists association.

8. He loved traveling

As he gradually continued to grow his painting career, he became interested in landscape paintings.

This was when he started traveling to broaden his mind, expand his horizon, and change appearances in his landscape paintings.

He visited most of the scenic spots in China. After all these travels, he came up with 50 landscape paintings known as “Chien-Shan t’u-chuan.” This series of paintings reflected a strong artistic personality and Qi style of painting.

9. He was a teacher

After successfully teaching himself painting and getting mentors, Qi Baishi polished his painting skills and became an expert.

When he turned 60, the Beijing University of Art offered him a post as a professor to teach the students pursuing painting and art his unique skills.

10. Qi Baishi experienced fame and success during his time

Baishi_College_of_Art,_Xiangtan_University. Photo by Huangdan2060 on

Qi Baishi was famously known for the playful style of his watercolor works and his painting simplicity.

His painting works meant him got noticed by many institutions, one being the ministry of culture, and he was chosen as an outstanding artist of chines artists.

In 1954 he was selected as the representative of the Chinese people and attended National People Progress. Also, in 1956 he was awarded the World Peace Prize by World Peace Council.

A college was also named after him, the Baishi College of Art, Xiangtan University.