Qi Gong, a top Chinese calligrapher, painter, scholar of classical Chinese philology and art connoisseur, died early on June 30 in Beijing at the age of 93.

At Beijing Normal University, where Qi Gong taught classical Chinese language and literature for more than 60 years, teachers and students mourned their professor's passing.

  Introduction of Qi Gong

Qi Gong, originally surnamed Aisin Giorro, was born into a Manchu family in Beijing on July 26, 1912 in Beijing. Aisin Giorro was an imperial clan name of the "Eight Banners" during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Qi, whose pen name was Yuan Bai, studied under the famous historian Professor Chen Yuan at a young age.

In 1935, he started work as a teaching assistant at Fujen University in Beijing, which later became Beijing Normal University. He continued teaching Chinese classics and literature at the university and also taught the study of traditional Chinese antiques at Peking University.

Before his passing away, he was the honorary president of Chinese Calligraphers' Association, director of Cultural Relic Authentication Committee of the State Council, professor of Beijing Normal University, and member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

  A master artist and learned scholar

Mr. Qi Gong was a famous scholar, painter, and calligrapher with a legendary life. He grew up in extreme poverty and had to drop out of middle school when still a teenager. Yet he continued to pursue his love of art and knowledge and managed to become a private student of leading scholars and painters. To support his family and buy books, he often had to sell his paintings and work as a tutor.

Influenced by Professor Chen Yuan (1880-1971), Qi Gong spent all his life on being an expert linguist and was quite learned even in China's eight-part essay, a literary legacy of ancient history. He was also good at poetry and at the same time proficient in ascertaining ancient scrolls and paintings, especially those with stone inscriptions.

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