Qiu Ying (仇英 in Chinese, ca.1502-1552) , born into a humble background, began his career as a lacquer craftsman. Later, he shifted his focus to painting and, while in Suzhou, he established connections with several contemporary renowned artists. He gained recognition from the literatus Wen Zhengming and received instruction in painting from Zhou Chen. In his middle age, Qiu Ying gained increasing recognition as a painter, he was invited to paint for wealthy merchants and art collectors. During this time, he had the privilege of viewing a large number of paintings by renowned artists from the Song and Yuan dynasties. He diligently observed, studied, and painstakingly copied these masterpieces, which significantly improved his artistic skills.

While primarily adhered to the style of the Southern Song Imperial Painting Academy , he drew inspiration from folk painting and literati painting, eventually developing his own distinctive style. He made notable contributions to the blue-green landscapes and meticulous figure painting. His dedication and talent led to him becoming a renowned figure in the art world, earning a place among the ‘Four Great Masters of the Wu School’.