Ming Tian (Shaojie Tian), male, is from Xianxi of Hunan province with an alias Zixue Jushi. He is a graduate with national high-grade title of culture. He is an artist of scholar type and works as a researcher in Xiangxi Folk Craftwork Art Research Station. Now he is a member of China Craftwork Art Academy, director of China Minority Art Promotion, honored chairman of Zhong Nan Fold Artist Association, member of Hunan Artist Association, Honored chairman of Xiangxi Artist Association, director of Xiangxi Calligrapher Association, visiting professor of literature academy and art academy in Jishou University. He was born in a scholarly family in 1948. His father graduated from the art department of China Central University and was disciple of Beihong Xu and Daqian Zhang. He is a famous art educationalist. Ming Tian inherited his family, studied hard and graduated from Hunan High Normal School, Nanjing Populace Academy and the research department of China Art Seminar. He Studied after professor Longrui, Shouxiang Chen, Guanfu Lin, etc. He worked in education, publication, art for many years and once was a teacher, guill-driver, and art expert. He once worked as art master of UN CPR/P17, art expert of Shenzhen Splendid China and China Folk Culture Village, dean of Jishou Painting and Calligraphy Seminar. He is good at Chinese painting and folk art theory. He held individual exhibition in Nanjing and Shenzhen. His painting material is very broad such as character, landscape, flower-bird, etc. His expressing method is not stick to one pattern which is fresh and civility. He has a gracious name of Xianxi First Man of Landscape and Peony Field.
1982 UNDERSTAND BIRD’S SOUND NEAR THE MOUNTAIN won the 2nd-grade Award of National Art Exhibition and was collected by Beijing Folk Culture Palace.
1994 EXPRESS GOOD WISHES TO RICE WINE won the highest award of China Folk Painting and Calligraphy Art Exhibition-Commending Meeting, and he was dubbed Folk Excellent Artist.
1996   XIANGXI SCENERY won the Bronze Award of the 1st Celebrities’ Excellent Works Exhibition between the Channels.
1999   DEEP PLACE OF WULIN won the Gold Award awarded by world unit society and he as dubbed International Silver Artist.
2002   His thesis won the First-grade Award of China New Period Literae Humaniores Achievement. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN IS SEA was selected to National Art Works Exhibition.
2004   He was a member of China Strong Power Painters Sketch Creating Team in China Artist Association. ORIGIN OF WULIN was selected to Wash Zhang Jia Jie. Book Xiangxi Origin Religion of Tujia Nationality and Folk Art won the Second-grade Award of China Culture Altar Art and First-grade Award in Hunan province. The research project Research of Craftwork Culture Inherit of Hunan Minority and Industrialization and Xiangxi Folk Art were cooperated with Hunan Philosophy Society.
2005   He took charge of National Non-material Culture Legacy Project Brocading Skill of Tujia Nationality was passed the examination and approve of the country culture office. XIANGXI TUNG IS FRAGRANT IN OCTOBER won the Excellent Award of the 6th China Folk Flowers Art Awards.
2007   TUJIA VILLAGE IN STREAM VIRGIN FOREST was selected to the 3rd China and Japan Friendly Communicating Exhibition of Painting and Calligraphy. Publishes of his works are China Non-material Culture Legacy---Brocade of Tujia, XIangxi Folk Craftwork Art Soul. His biography brief was collected to China Modern Artist Celebrity Glossary, Record of China Contemporary Celebrity and Record of World Celebrity.