Chia Ching-de (1880-1960) was born in Shanxi to a well educated family. He was admitted as a scholar to the Qing court and was the secretary of Yan Xi-shan, secretary of the Administrative Bureau and director of the Examination Board. He was regarded as one of the four best calligraphers, along with Yu You-ren, Liang Han-cao, Ji Zi-gao. Chia specialised in Yan script with neat and profound calligraphy. He was also author of famous literatures including Poems of Tao-yuan.