Yuanji Shi Tao, born Zhu Ruoji (1642 - 1707) was a Chinese artist. Born in Quanzhou County in Guangxi province, Shi Tao was a member of the Ming royal house. He narrowly avoided catastrophe in 1644 when the Ming dynasty fell to invading Manchurians and civil rebellion. Having escaped by chance from the fate to which his lineage would've assigned him, Shi Tao assumed the name Yuanji Shi Tao no later than 1651 when he became a Buddhist monk. He moved from Wuchang, where he began his religious ins… (More on Shitao)