Statue of Wu Changshuo in Xiling Seal Arts Society, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province [Photo/IC]

Wu Changshuo (1844-1927) was a prominent painter, calligrapher and seal artist of the late Qing Dynasty (1840-1921). He was also the first president of the Xiling Seal Arts Society.

Wu was born into a scholarly family in Anji county, Huzhou, Zhejiang. His home town of Zhangwu village has a remote mountain setting with poor traffic; he therefore went to Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai for better study. He devoted himself to his art for decades, and even three days before his death was still working on a painting of Chinese cymbidium.

Anji established the Wu Changshuo memorial hall for people to study and learn about Wu's artworks. Located in it are a statue and some photos of Wu and some of his artworks as well as those of other painters and calligraphers.