Everyone has has his or her own story and the purpose of each portrait is to represent it.

A good portrait of a person must contain his or her soul.

Poetry is a great example of the reserved and cryptic manner in which many Chinese people tend to express themselves.

Yuan Zheng was a well-known poet during the Tang Dynasty. His most famous poem is the mourning poem he wrote for his wife.

Despite the fact that Yuan Zhen had many women in his life, he only wrote a mourning poem for his first wife, Wei Cong.

Even though Yuan Zhen dated many women, Wei Cong was still the love of his life.

While the Chinese use many different ways to express the same feelings, they say things out loud in a straightforward way.

Art is always affected by the culture in which it was created.

Hong Yi was a master painter, musician, dramatist, calligrapher, seal cutter, poet, and Buddhist monk. His calligraphy version of the "Xin Jing" is greatly beloved by all.

"Farewell" or "Songbie" was composed by Master Hong Yi. This song reflects the vicissitudes of Master Hong Yi's life. More importantly it talks about parting, something Master Hong Yi has experienced numerous times through out his days.

Master Hong Yi grew up in a wealthy and prosperous family. He had everything he could possibly need. Why would he ever want to leave?

In our lives we experience pain and sorrow, Master Hong Yi is no different. One of the most painful experiences he went through was loosing his mother.

When he was in Japan Master Hong Yi came in touch with Western art, which lead him to start his magazine. It was through magazines that he first heard of fasting.

Through fasting Master Hong Yi began to adjust his lifestyle and mindset to fit that of a monk. Afterwards he shaved his head and formally became a monk.

When Master Hong Yi left to become a monk everyone was shocked. Even his wife and kids didn't understand.

The transitions in Master Hong Yi's life happened naturally and are connected to his growth as an individual. Some wonder whether or not in his decision to become a monk he abandoned this world.

After becoming a monk Master Hong Yi deepened his study of Buddhism. The Buddhism value, love is compassion, became a part of his doctrine.

We are constantly saying goodbye to our friends, to our family, to our past selves. Master Hong Yi is no different. These goodbyes became an inspiration for his song, "Farewell".

This video explains the arduous process that Zheng Banqiao had to go through to become a county level official.

Zheng Banqiao faces the reality that becoming an official wasn't at all what he expected. His colleagues don't consider the plight of the people the way he does, and upon being ousted from officialdom, he criticizes his former colleagues.

Our Hostess shows that Zheng Biaoyan, although toughened by years of working as an official, was still that innocent young man with a strong sense of justice underneath. He came to reveal his true nature through his artwork.

Our hostess gives us an analysis of Zheng Banqiao's paintings. Bamboo come to represent Zheng Banqiao as a man of virtue.

After Zheng Banqiao's big revelation, his days are numbered. He can't continue living in the Qing dynasty era of corruption and he eventually dies of sickness.