Yang Feiyun, a widely-acclaimed oil painter and a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), made a proposal during the annual parliamentary session to set up an honor system in the field of art. He has made this proposal for several years now.

According to Yang, the system would recognize and select the most talented artists and cultural workers as leaders in their fields. Receiving the title would be regarded as both a respect and honor to domestic artists, and it would further develop Chinese culture and art. The system would provide easy access for Chinese artists and scholars to communicate with the rest of the world.

China set up a similar system in the 1990s as a way to honor the most outstanding scientists and engineers. Yang said the influence the title had on developing China's science and engineering fields is obvious, especially regarding the country’s economy. Now, he said, it is time to fill the vacancies of artistic scholars.

In 1948, China selected its first batch of scholars under the Kuomintang's rule. Out of the 81 scholars chosen, 28 were in the field of art.