Portrait of the artist

Born in Jishan county, Shanxi province in 1913, Yao Dianzhong is a famous scholar, calligrapher and educator.

A pupil of the late culture master Zhang Taiyan in the 1940s, he is the only one of his students still alive today.

Yao has taught the Chinese literature in many universities across the country for the past 70 years.

After the reform and opening-up, Yao served as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the vice-chairman of the Shanxi committee of CPPCC.

Still strong at 100

He was a member of the central committee of the Jiu San Society, one of the country's non-Communist parties.

He is also a director of the China Calligraphers Association.

As a scholar, he has published numerous books and essays on the Chinese literature and poetry.

He is best known for his artistic achievements. His poems, calligraphy, paintings and seals have been termed the "four wonders".

In 2009, he was given the Lanting Pavilion Award, the highest honor bestowed on a Chinese calligrapher, for his lifelong pursuit of the art.

His calligraphy works have been collected at Zhongnanhai - the residence of the country's central leadership - as well as the Great Hall of the People and many museums around the country.