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Mao Huaisu (冒怀苏 1919–2010) was a distinguished contemporary man of letters—a poet, scholar, and printmaker who embodied the profound cultural legacy of the historic Mao family of Rugao. He was a master of "perfecting both scholarship and art": in the literary world, he carried forward the refined spirit of his ancestor, Mao Pijiang, earning acclaim for his lyrical poetry and rigorous research into classical Chinese literature. In the realm of fine arts, he stood as a pioneer and titan of modern Chinese printmaking and ex Libris (bookplate) art.

Mao Huaisu famously infused the soul of a poet into the edge of a carving knife. His woodcut prints, characterized by their stark black-and-white contrast and deep philosophical resonance, earned him the Lu Xun Printmaking Award, the highest honor in the field in China. Furthermore, as a vital proponent of the bookplate art movement, he masterfully blended traditional Chinese elements—such as seal carving and classical bookbinding—with Western printmaking techniques. In doing so, he created expansive humanistic landscapes within the miniature confines of a bookplate, earning him the title of "the poet with a carving knife."

Whether lecturing on the classics or etching the spirit of the era into woodblocks, Mao Huaisu served as an essential bridge between traditional Chinese culture and modern artistic expression, defined by his noble character and multifaceted brilliance.