姚兆明

Yao Zhao-ming (1934-1986), a native of Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, was Pu Hsin-yu’s daughter-in-law and final disciple. Gifted from early childhood, she developed a passion for painting and calligraphy under the guidance of her father, Yao Pai-hsueh. By secondary school, her depictions of flowers, landscapes, and elegant figures had already gained recognition. She relocated to Taiwan in 1945, later attending Taiwan Provincial Teachers College (now National Taiwan Normal University). In 1950, Yao became a disciple of Pu Hsin-yu. Under his guidance, she mastered the classical qianjiang (light ocher) coloring method, developing an ethereal pictorial mood and firm, vigorous brushwork that perfectly captured the refined, untrammeled spirit of the Pu School. Yao later studied Western painting and sculpture in Italy, graduating at the top of her class from the Academy of Fine Arts of Rome with a master’s degree in painting and a doctorate in art history. Upon her return to Taiwan, she joined the faculties of Chinese Culture University, Fu Jen Catholic University, and other prominent institutions.