Xu Wei

Xu Wei (Chinese: 徐渭; pinyin: Xú Wèi; Wade–Giles: Hsü Wei, 1521–1593) was a Ming dynasty Chinese painter, poet, writer and dramatist famed for his artistic expressiveness. Revolutionary for its time, his painting style influenced and inspired countless subsequent painters, such as Bada Shanren, the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, and the modern masters Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi. Qi once exclaimed in a poem that "How I wish to be born 300 years earlier so I could grind ink and prepare paper for Green Vine ( A Xu Wei pen name)" (恨不生三百年前，為青藤磨墨理紙). Xu Wei can be considered as the founder of modern painting in China. His influence continues to exert itself. Despite his posthumous recognition, Xu was manifestly mentally ill and unsuccessful in life, ending his life in poverty after the murder of his third wife and several attempts at suicide.

His courtesy names were Wenqing (文清) and then later Wenchang (文長). His pseudonyms were "The Mountain-man of the Heavenly Pond" (天池山人 Tiānchí Shānrén), "Daoist of the Green Vine House" (青藤道士 Qīngténg Dàoshì) and "The Water and Moon of the Bureau's Farm" (署田水月 Shǔtián Shuǐ Yuè). Born in Shanyin (山阴 - now Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province), Xu was raised by a single mother who died when he was 14. At 21, he married a woman surnamed Pan (潘氏), who died five years later. Though he passed the county civil examination at age 20, Xu was never able to pass the provincial civil service examinations, even after attempting it eight times. Nevertheless, Xu was employed by Hu Zongxian, Supreme Commander of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Fujian coastal defense against the wokou pirates.

Xu Wei (musician)

Xǔ Wēi (Simplified Chinese: 许巍) is a Chinese rock musician. He was born and raised in the Pangliu village, near Xi'an.

In 1984, Xǔ Wēi began learning to play the guitar at the age of sixteen, when he started high school. In April 1986, he attended the first guitar-singing competition in Xi'an, and won first prize. After writing his first song, Xu abandoned university entrance exams to pursue his love of music.

At the end of 1987, Xu Wei joined the People's Liberation Army, working in the arts troupe of Shaanxi military region. In 1988, he came into contact with rock music for the first time. The following year, he was offered entry into the Fourth Military Medical University but turned down the opportunity. During the three years in the army, Xu taught himself to compose music and write songs, producing several pop songs.

Xu Wei left the army in the winter of 1990. He became known among the avant-garde of Xi'an as an outstanding guitarist.

In 1993 he organised the band Fly (飞). As time passed, Xu Wei became a very dynamic individual artist, receiving accolades for his unique style. He still participates in the composition of rock music, but his style has been influenced by pop.