Feng Zikai (1898 - 1975) was a Chinese painter and cartoonist - he graduated from the famous Hangzhou High School

Hangzhou High School

Hangzhou High School , or Hangzhou Senior High School, established in 1899, is a high school in China. There are 46 academicians who graduated from the institution.-Hanggao Observatory:...

 (浙江省杭州高级中学).

Background

Originating from the Tongxiang Prefecture of Zhejiang Province, Feng Zikai was a contemporary painter, writer, and teacher of music. In his early years, he was taught by the accomplished Hong Yi. In 1921, Feng travelled to Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 to further his studies. After he returned to China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

, he taught art and music in Shanghai

Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...

, Zhejiang

Zhejiang

Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...

 and Chongqing

Chongqing

Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...

 respectively, and became the editor of Kaiming Publishing House.

Feng wrote extensively on various topics, including literature, painting, music, translation and calligraphy. Among Feng’s numerous creations, his most famous works include short essay collections, such as Yuan-Yuan Tang Shui Bi, Yuan-Yuan Tang Zai Bi, Chexiang Shehui and Shuai Zhen Ji; cartoon collections, like Zikai Cartoons, Children’s Cartoons; and translated works, including Diary of a Hunter and The Tale of Genji.

The Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award

Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award

The Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award is a biannual award aimed at promoting original, quality Chinese children’s books and recognising the efforts of authors, illustrators and publishers...

, launched in 2009 to promote Chinese children's picture books, is named in honour of the artist.

Quote

“In these recent years, my heart has been occupied by four things: deities and stars in the sky, as well as art and children on human earth. My children, who resemble swallows, share the deepest destiny with me, and possess equal standing with deities, stars and art in my heart.”

External links

• Feng Zikai and his Painting Gallery at China Online Museum
• An Artistic Exile: A Life of Feng Zikai (1898-1975)