Yuan Mei

Yuan Mei was a Chinese poet, painter, calligrapher, and scholar who lived in the Qing dynasty. He was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and passed the imperial examination at the age of 23. He served as a magistrate in several districts in Jiangsu, but resigned from his post in 1748 and returned to his hometown to pursue his literary interests. He bought a garden in Nanjing, which he named Suiyuan (Garden of Contentment), and lived there for the rest of his life. He wrote more than 10,000 poems, many of which expressed his natural and individual style, as well as his interest in Chan Buddhism and the supernatural. He also wrote essays, letters, criticism, short stories, and books on various topics, such as history, food, and ghost stories. He was the editor of the first printed edition of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, a collection of classical Chinese stories. He was also a talented painter, who painted female figures, Buddhist images, plum with bamboo, flowers, and scenery. He was influenced by the Ming dynasty painter Chen Hongshou and the Qing dynasty painter Jin Nong. He was one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, a group of unconventional artists who challenged the orthodox style of painting. He was also a patron of female poets and writers, and helped them publish their works under their own names. He died at the age of 81 and was buried in his garden. He was regarded as one of the most influential poets and painters of his time and his works are highly valued by collectors and museums.