DI PINGZI (1872-1941) / ZHANG YUANJI (1867-1959) / ZHU YIFAN (1861-1937)
Calligraphy in Running Script Collection
1. DI PINGZI
Calligraphy in Running Script
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
70 x 38.5 cm. (27 ¹⁄₂ x 15 ¹⁄₈ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated spring, yichou year (1925)
Dedicated to Jianlu
One collector's seal

2. ZHANG YUANJI
Calligraphy in Running Script
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
129 x 32.5 cm. (50 ³⁄₄ x 12 ³⁄₄ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with four seals of the artist
Dedicated to Jianlu

3. ZHU YIFAN
Calligraphy in Running Script
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
129.5 x 31.5 cm. (51 x 12 ³⁄₈ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dedicated to Jianlu
Titleslip inscribed by Chang Kin-lo, with one seal

Cheng Kinlo (1892-1980), courtesy name Zijian, also known as Yupi and Jiaqi, was born in a scholarly family in Guangdong. He and his sixth brother, Marcus C.C. Cheng (1898-?), were in charge of Chung Hwa Book Company’s business in Hong Kong and Macau in the 1930s. His family has been running a tea business in Fujian for decades, and thus they had a deep friendship with the local gentry and cultural figures.

Cheng Kinlo served as the principal of Guishan Public Primary School in Xiangshan County, Guangdong in his early years. He travelled to Shanghai in the early 1920s and served as the sales director of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, founded by patriotic businessmen Jian Zhaonan and Jian Yujie. During his tenure, he met Huang Manshi (1890-1963), who was also working in Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, and the two became working partners and close friends.

In the early 1930s, Cheng Kinlo was recruited by Lu Feikui to join Chung Hwa Book Company, and served as the director of the South China Region, overseeing the eight branches of Fujian, Guangdong, Shantou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Xiamen, Yunnan and Wuzhou. He stationed in Hong Kong and oversaw the construction of the Hong Kong printing factory.

Cheng Kinlo was well acquainted with the cultural circles, and had a lasting friendship with Xu Beihong (1895-1953). During the 1930s and 1940s, Xu Beihong often visited the Lingnan region. Whenever he was in Guanghzou, Hong Kong, or Macau, he was hosted by Cheng Kinlo and Marcus C.C. Cheng, and was introduced to the local cultural and art circles.