Pu Hsin-Yu (1896-1963)
Born as a native of Beijing, Mr. Pu was a member of the Manchu imperial family. Following the overthrow of the Manchu Ching dynasty, he changed his name to Pu Ju, style Hsin-yu. He spent seven years at the Chien Tai monastery on Mt. Hsi, and took the studio name Hsi-shan I-shih or "Retired official of Mt. Hsi."
Pu Ru, also known as Pu Xing-yu, was a member of the Ching Dynasty royal family as a cousin of the Xuantong Emperor, Pu Yi. Educated in the Chinese classics and learned traditional styles of painting and calligraphy. Highly accomplished as a copyist of paintings from the Song and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties. He was an outstanding painter, poet and essayist with a thorough knowledge of the classics and antiques.

  Pu adapted calligraphy, painting   technique derived from Tang   (618- 906 A.D.) and Sung (960-1279   A.D.) Dynasties. Tang and Sung   Dynasty painting, considered pinnacles   of Chinese art, were skills that had   been lost over the centuries.   Characteristics of Tang and Sung   Dynasty painting include: a precision   and sophistication of brushwork;   perfection of line technique; a   concentration on people, religious   figures and horses; and the use of   landscape.

Pu Ru had students including An Ho and Wu Tung. Both students later became renowned Chinese traditional painting masters and continue to bring glamour to the art of classic brush paintings.

(Calligraphy from Pu Ru)