Dai Jin (1388–1462), also known as Wenjin, was a native of Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou), Zhejiang province. As a young man, he was a goldsmith and siliversmith. He started learning painting by meticulous brushwork painting techniques and he was equally influenced by the Southern Song academy style. During the Xuande era (1426–1435), Dai Jin was summoned to serve as an imperial court painter. During this period, he honed his skills by learning from a diverse array of masters, such as Guo Xi, Li Cheng, Xia Gui and Ma Yuan in the Song dynasty.  However, facing false accusations later on, he was relieved of his duties and returned to his hometown at the age of 54, subsisting by selling his paintings and providing art lessons.  

Dai Jin's talent lay not only in his superb skills but also in his versatility in handling figures, landscapes and bird-and-flower themes. Throughout his life, his painting style underwent transformative shifts - evolving from a classic academic approach to a powerful, yet succinct and elegant style. Dai Jin is recognized as the pioneering artist who founded the Zhe school.