Wang Qishu

Wang Qishu (1728–1799) was a Chinese art collector, seal carver, poet, and politician.

Although he initially planned to take the Imperial examinations and become an official, he eventually went into the family business as a salt merchant.

Despite this, his donations to the government's coffers resulted in an official court position and he spent several years in Beijing fulfilling an administrative role.

[2][1] Although he wrote poetry, Wang was never highly regarded as a writer by his contemporaries, who nevertheless admired him for his work as a collector.

[1] He also edited the Xie fang ji ("Collected fragrances"), an anthology of women's poetry.