Aquatic Pleasures

This painting presented by Qi Baishi as a gift to Dai Songyi (Tai Chung-yee, 1904-1979), to whom it is dedicated. Dai Songyi enrolled in China's prestigous Military University with his cousin Dai Gaoxiang and then transferred to and graduated from Huangpu Military Academy. He was then selected by Chiang Kai-shek to receive special security training in Germany's Austria Police Academy, to groom him for leading intelligence work against the Japanese. As one of the top security officers during World War II, he worked closely with and was trusted by Chiang Kai-shek and General Dai Li, who was the director of all intelligence-collecting functions. The painting was given to his cousin General Dai Gaoxiang later and then, handed down to his descendants.