Arthur Bowie Chrisman, the sixth child of Isaac Arthur and Mary Louise Chrisman, was born on July 16, 1889, at Westbrook Farm, Virginia. He received his early education in a one-room schoolhouse near White Post, Virginia, then attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1906 to 1908, studying electrical engineering. He spent several years traveling in California, where he studied the history and literature of China and India.

Chrisman began writing at age eighteen but was unable to sell his early stories. His first published book, Shen of the Sea, received the 1926 Newbery Medal for "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." Later books included The Wind That Wouldn't Blow: Stories of the Merry Middle Kingdom for Children and Myself and Treasure Long Hidden: Old Tales and New Tales of the East All were collections of Chinese stories.

Chrisman taught school and worked as a draftsman, movie actor...