Ma Yuan(马远) (1160—1225), Chinese, Song Dynasty (960–1279), A leading painter of the Southern Song Dynasty, Ma Yuan (styled Yaofu) was born in Qiantang (modern Hangzhou) into a renowned artistic family spanning five generations of imperial court painters. Serving as a daizhao (academician) in the Hanlin Painting Academy under Emperors Guangzong and Ningzong, he revolutionized landscape art with his "one-corner" (Ma Yijiao) composition, characterized by bold diagonal layouts and poetic voids. Influenced by Li Tang, his ink-wash techniques featured angular "axe-cut" brushstrokes (fupicun) and stark contrasts between ink tones and blank spaces, evoking ethereal simplicity. A master of integrating figures, flora, and fauna into minimalistic scenes, his iconic works include Plum Blossoms by a Mountain Stream and Water Series. He is celebrated as one of the "Four Great Masters of the Southern Song" alongside Li Tang, Liu Songnian, and Xia Gui.