Shiwei Qu

Qu Shiwei, courtesy name Zhibin, art name Yichan, and Daoist name Yuanchu (Yuanchu); he went by his courtesy name in daily life. Born in 1875 in Wuchang, he died on June 19, 1932, at the age of 57. He grew up in Wuchang and, among eight sons in a feudal clan formed by his grandfather and great-uncle, he was the seventh.

In the mid-Guangxu era, after Qu Tingshao was promoted to Inspector of Hubei, he supervised the construction of Bagua Hall in Wujin. Since the entire family resided at the Hubei government residence, he sent Qu Shiwei back to Wujin to take care of Bagua Hall “by the order of his elder brothers,” and to serve his mother, who was mad and paralyzed; he remained idle at home for a long time.

He excelled at landscape painting, enjoyed reading medical books, studied Huang-Lao thought, and adhered to Daoism. According to records, he also bore fictitious titles such as “National Student” and “Zhejiang Candidate Salt Envoy.”

In 1903, after Qu Tingshao’s death, he lost his support and financial resources and was forced to move out of Bagua Hall. The family fell into poverty; his wife Jin Hengyu committed suicide, and the family dispersed.

From 1922 onward, he taught at the private Shandong Art School in Jinan.

He died on June 19, 1932.