Cultural Foundations of Zhendai He (USA) (DBA H Foundation) was established in California in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. Its mission is rooted in the principles of inheritance and innovation, building a cultural bridge to share the richness of traditional Chinese culture with a global audience.
The foundation was established by Tina He in honor of her great-grandfather, Zhendai He (1867–1952), a renowned Chinese poet, writer, and educator. It is guided by his lifelong commitment to scholarship and the family motto passed down through generations: "There will be no regrets only through studying hard; each has its own destiny so no envy." The foundation’s primary work focuses on inheritance: preserving cultural legacies through scholarly research, education, and artistic programs that promote meaningful cultural exchange and understanding.
To fulfill the innovation part of its mission, the foundation developed a contemporary arts platform. This work is carried out through H Foundation for the Arts, a sister 501(c)(3) organization launched in 2025. This initiative focuses on supporting emerging and crossdisciplinary artists from Asia and its diaspora, sparking a vibrant dialogue between tradition and modern life.
Born in year six of Tongzhi, December 23, 1867, Lunar Calendar, (January 17, 1868). Zhendai He's works are also identifiable under other 'pen names' as follow: Meisheng, Xinyu, Juelu, Yueming; and, at age sixty he acquired the additional 'pen names' of Meisou, Nan Hua Lao Ren, and Long Zhu Ju Shi.
Zhendai He passed the Provincial Civil Service examination in 1897, ranked Fourth, then later entered the Pragmatic Academy, where he was quickly identified by Scholar Zhangting Xie's as his favorite student.
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Zhendai He
(1867-1952) born in Min County (presently Fu Zhou City) Ancient Chinese Prose Master, Esteemed Poet, Tributory Official Document Writer, Local Recorder, Teacher, and Scholar in Literature, Art, and Music.
By 1906, the Jiangxi Provincial Administrative Commissioner Yuqing Shen hired Him as Tributary Official Document Writer; it was during his tenure that they combined creatively during non-working hours to compose and exchange poems.
In 1909, Zhendai He met Yan Chen, who was also a Poet,and Leader of the Min Branch of Tong Guang Ti poems.Where Tong Guang Ti poets prefer using literary quotations and obscure languages, Zhendai He speaks through unique profound yet delicate, peace and tranquility poems, distinguishing himself from the Min Branch. Although Zhendai He's style differed from Yan Chen's philosophy, Chen admired He's talented. Thus, Yan Chen selected a large quantity of He's poetry and placed those poems into Yan Chen's “Modern Poem Notes” Collection.
In 1915, the Governor of Fu Jian Province and Grandson of Zexu Lin, Bingzhang Lin, who was also the Water Conservancy Bureau Chief responsible for dredging the West Lake, hired Zhendai He, as Head of the Seal Script, to re-edit “The Record of West Lake.” This Literary piece that contains over four hundred thousand characters, is regarded as equally prestigious with the “Hangzhou West Lake Tour” authored by Ruchen Tian during the Ming Dynasty period.
In 1916, Zhendai He joined talents with Yan Chen to compile “Art and Literature” and “Collected Biographies” in “Fu Jian Records.”
