On December 11, 2025, Fan Zeng – an 87-year-old artist and calligrapher, 1 of the most celebrated figures in Chinese art – unexpectedly publically announced the birth of his boy from a relation with his 4th wife, 37-year-old X This is his first speech since August, erstwhile he stopped appearing publicly, causing waves of speculation.
A fewer weeks earlier, his daughter from his second marriage, Fan Xiao Hui – costume designer at the National Theatre of the Peking Opera – published a message on Weibo in which she accused X RMB 2 billion and the dismissal of his longtime employees. She besides revealed fragments of the transcript of conversations and correspondence suggesting that Fan Zeng is isolated and incapable to make independent decisions.
In response, Fan Zeng issued a message in which:
- confirms the birth of “one son”,
- transmitted full authority over all public and private affairs his 4th wife,
- He broke all relations with Fan Xiao Hui and Fan Zhong Da (son of a 3rd marriage),
- terminated all contracts and authorisations related to these people and their companies.
Fan Zenga's biography is complicated: 4 marriages, children from different relationships, and after the death of their 3rd wife (2021) – a matrimony with Xų Měng in April 2024. The current conflict seems to be the consequence unregulated succession and the deficiency of a formal plan to inherit collections and rights to creativity.
The Chinese art marketplace is watching with concern. Fan Zeng is not only an artist, but besides Trade markand his works are frequently auctioned. deficiency of legal clarity can affect the Chinese master's turnover.
Although Fan Zeng tries to calm the situation through an authoritative statement, media and public opinion proceed commenting and analyzing family soap opera artist, where it is all that excites tabloid editors and their consumers, namely scandals, love, money, rejected heirs, and even fatherhood in the elderly. Ready for another Chinese drama.
Sources
- Sina News – "范曾发布声明:与徐萌喜得一子,断绝与部分子女关系", 11 December 2025:
https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2025-12-11/doc-inhamakk8019748.shtml - Tencent News – "范曾回应家庭争议:喜得独子,授权妻子全权处理事务", 11 December 2025:
https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20251211A04GV300 - The Art paper – “Renewed Chinese artist Fan Zeng embroiled in household dispute over art collection”, December 12, 2025
- South China Morning Post – “Fan Zeng, 87, anounces birth of boy amid household feud”, December 11, 2025
- Bloomberg – “Chinese art marketplace reactions to Fan Zeng succession crisis”, December 13, 2025
Author: 梁安基 Andrzej Z. Liang, 上海 Shanghai, 中国 China
Email: [email protected]
Editorial: Leszek B.
Email: [email protected]
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