His real name was Zhu Da (Chu Ta) -- he was a member of a branch of the Ming ruling family, which was overthrown in 1644 by the invading Manchus.  Bada shanren, who was about 20 at this time, seems to have been traumatized by these events.  For a time, he went off to become a monk, though later he drifted away from the established orders.  He is also said to have gone mad, though some have suggested that he feigned madness to protect himself from the new ruling Manchu family.  Eventually, he wrote upon his door the Chinese word ya, "dumb", "unable to speak".  From this time, he would laugh, cry, drink (a great deal of) wine -- and paint.  But he would not speak with anyone.  "When he felt inclined to write," said one contemporary, "he would bare his arm, grasp his brush, and make cries like those of a madman." He was indeed a Bohemian, or "individualist" painter.