In the year of 1279, Kublai Khan had finalizing the Mogol conquest and founded the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). In order to spiritually control over the Chinese, especially Han Chinese, Kublai had looked for the most talented Chinese scholars to serve for his royal court. Therefore, Zhao started his career at the highest offices of state, who was then honored not only as a great artist but also as “a versatile man of letters” who recorded the emperor’s activities. Therefore, Zhao’s wife, Guan Daosheng, was also be able to display her talent to others and was honored as the talent lady. Accordingly, Guan's works finally been seen and honored. Both Guan Daosheng and her prominent husband Zhao Mengfu "harbored deep Chan Buddhist faith and enjoyed friendship with monks, such as their teacher Zhongfeng Mingben and others residing in the monasteries on the Tianmu Mountains, close to their homes in Wuxing and Deqing in northern Zhejiang..."