Shao Peizi (; 1884–1968), was a Chinese

calligrapher Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...

, seal artist, educator and economist. Shao was twice President of

Zhejiang University Zhejiang University, abbreviated as ZJU or Zheda and formerly romanized as Chekiang University, is a national public research university based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. It is a member of the prestigious C9 League and is selected into the na ...

in history.

Biography

Shao was born in

Hangzhou Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...

, the capital of

Zhejiang Province Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiangs ...

, in 1884

Qing Dynasty China The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speaki ...

. Shao's birthname was ''Wentai'' (闻泰), and also known as ''Changguang'' (长光). Shao studied English and economics at Nanyang Public School (南洋公学; main root of current

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU; ) is a public research university in Shanghai, China. The university is funded by the Ministry of Education of China. The university was established on April 8, 1896 as Nanyang Public School (南洋� ...

) in Shanghai. After graduation Shao went to USA and studied economics at

Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is consider ...

, which he graduated BA in 1909. In the first year of Xuantong Era (1909), Shao went back to China, and became a lecturer of English at Zhejiang Advanced College (current

) in Hangzhou. He later became provost and then president of the college. In 1913, Shao went to Beijing and served as a senior official in the

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

. He was also a professor of English and the provost of the University of Law and Politics (法政大学) in Beijing. Just before the

Northern Expedition The Northern Expedition was a military campaign launched by the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) of the Kuomintang (KMT), also known as the "Chinese Nationalist Party", against the Beiyang government and other regional warlords in 1926. The ...

, Shao again went back to Hangzhou, became a professor and later the

dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

of the School of Science and Arts at Zhejiang University. In Nov 1928, Shao became the Vice-president of Zhejiang University (then called ''National 3rd Sun Yat-sen University''). From Jul 1930 to Nov 1931, Shao served the President of Zhejiang University. When

Chiang Kai-shek Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...

was inspecting Zhejiang University, Shao was encouraged to join

Kuomintang The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...

, which was refused by Shao. Shao was squeezed out by Kuomintang Central Club and left Zhejiang University in 1935, but still lived in Hangzhou. Shao later worked for the

Commercial Press The Commercial Press () is the first modern publishing organisation in China. History In 1897, 26-year-old Xia Ruifang and three of his friends (including the Bao brothers Bao Xian'en and Bao Xianchang) founded The Commercial Press in Shang ...

in Shanghai. During the

Second Sino-Japanese War The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict that was primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The war made up the Chinese theater of the wider Pacific Th ...

, Shao served

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

of Zhejiang Provincial Government, and was a director of the board of Zhejiang Bank. After 1949, Shao was the

Director-general A director general or director-general (plural: ''directors general'', ''directors-general'', ''director generals'' or ''director-generals'' ) or general director is a senior executive officer, often the chief executive officer, within a government ...

of Zhejiang Cultural Relic Management Committee (浙江省文物管理委员会). Shao was a standing member and later director of the

Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK), also commonly known, especially when referenced historically, as the Left Kuomintang or Left Guomindang, is one of the eight legally recognised minor political parties in the Peo ...

Zhejiang Branch. Shao was the Vice-president of Zhejiang Research Institute of Literature and History (浙江省文史研究馆). Shao was a member of both

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, zh, 中国人民政治协商会议), also known as the People's PCC (, ) or simply the PCC (), is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China and a central part of ...

and

National People’s Congress The National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (NPC; ), or simply the National People's Congress, is constitutionally the supreme state authority and the national legislature of the People's Republic of China. With 2, ...

Art

Shao was a famous

calligraphist Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...

and seal maker in China. He was quite accomplished in both

regular script Regular script (; Hepburn: ''kaisho''), also called (), (''zhēnshū''), (''kǎitǐ'') and (''zhèngshū''), is the newest of the Chinese script styles (popularized from the Cao Wei dynasty c. 200 AD and maturing stylistically around the ...

and

semi-cursive script Semi-cursive script (), also known as running hand script, is a style of calligraphy which emerged in China during the Han dynasty (3rd century BC – 3rd century AD). The style is used to write Chinese characters and is abbreviated slightly w ...

. His style is described as ''deep'', ''powerful'', ''clear'', and ''smart'' (沉雄清灵), and is considered close to Li Beihai (李北海)'s style.Artist: Shao Peizi
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References

External links

Introduction to Shao Peizi's art, and the collection of his calligraphy

School of Humanities, Zhejiang University

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shao, Peizi Artists from Hangzhou 1884 births 1968 deaths Academic staff of Zhejiang University Stanford University alumni Delegates to the 3rd National People's Congress Qing dynasty calligraphers Republic of China calligraphers People's Republic of China calligraphers Chinese seal artists Politicians from Hangzhou People's Republic of China politicians from Zhejiang Presidents of Zhejiang University