Zhong Kui Practicing a Sword

Pu Ru, born in Beijing, member of the Manchu Qing imperial clan and grandson of Prince Gong Aisin Gioro Yixin, was also known by his courtesy name Zhongheng (later changed to Xinyu) and literary names Xihuangshangren and Xishanyishi. He went into reclusion in Beijing after the 1911 Xinhai Revolution and devoted himself solely to painting. He was invited to teach at Kyoto Imperial University in 1928. After he returned to China, he assumed a teaching position at National Beiping Art College. During the War of Resistance against Japan, he made a living by selling his paintings and calligraphy works. In 1949, he moved to Taiwan and became a professor at the Department of Art of National Taiwan Normal University. Pu Ru was dedicated to the study in poetry, prose, calligraphy, and painting. He excelled at mountain and water, figure and flower painting and was equally good at calligraphy. He was renowned as one of the “Three Masters across the Taiwan Strait”, the other two of which were Zhang Daqian and Huang Junbi.