Kuan yin statue

Chinese artist and poet (1262–1319)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Guan.

Guan Daosheng, also known as Guan Zhongji or Lady Zhongji (her courtesy name) (Chinese: 管道昇; Wade–Giles: Kuan Tao-sheng; 字仲姬；1262–1319), was a Chinese painter and poet who was active during the early Yuan dynasty.

She is credited with being "the most famous female painter and calligrapher in the Chinese history...remembered not only as a talented woman, but also as a prominent figure in the history of bamboo painting."^[1] She is also a well-known poet in the Yuan dynasty.^[2]

Life

She was born into a landed family in Huzhou, which is believed to be descended from the high-ranking Wuxing official Guan Zhong.

Guan grew up on her family's ancestral lands, nicknamed "The Roost of the Esteemed," and was a well-educated and highly talented child.^[3] Her father thought very highly of her, seeing her as an exceptional child as soon as she