Also named Zhiting and Mei’an, Tiebao was a Manchu born into a military family. Instead of following his father’s footsteps, he opted for the route of a civil official. By the age of 19, he had earned his 'jinshi' degree. Tiebao was known for his excellence in poetry and calligraphy. He created poetry that usually reflected his pride in his Manchu ancestry. Through poetry, he raised social consciousness about the richness of the Manchu culture.In this album, which consists of 12 leaves, Tiebao goes on to expound his personal views on cultivating life (‘yangsheng’). He recommends maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding indulgence of the senses and treating illnesses at an early stage. Here, Tie’s character embody movement but is restricted within the squarish-oblong confines of a typical regular script character.
