Chinese Painting

2025-09-03

Chinese painting , a traditional Chinese art form with a history spanning over two thousand years, has profoundly influenced the development of art in East Asia and around the world. Developed from China’s unique culture, philosophy, and artistic theories, Chinese painting possesses distinctive forms of expression, techniques, and aesthetics. Unlike Western painting, which emphasizes realistic depiction, Chinese painting focuses on conveying artistic conception, emotion, and connotation, emphasizing the artistic conception of brush and ink, the creation of artistic conception, and the use of cultural symbols.

The basic characteristics of Chinese painting

Brush and ink performance :
- The core technique of Chinese painting lies in “brushwork and ink,” specifically the application of brushstrokes and ink color. This technique emphasizes brush movement and the varying shades of ink, paying attention to the force, angle, and rhythm of the brushstrokes.
- Using the brush as the main tool, different brushstrokes are used to create various delicate or rough effects, showing the dynamics, vitality and depth of the picture.
Combination of freehand and realism :
- There are two styles of Chinese painting: meticulous painting and freehand painting.
  - Fine brushwork painting : emphasizes delicate depiction, focuses on the description of details, and presents the true appearance of objects.
  - Freehand painting : It pursues the free expression of brush and ink and the expression of emotion. It does not focus on the resemblance of form, but emphasizes the transmission of artistic conception.
Focus on artistic conception :
- Chinese painting strives to express “artistic conception,” the inner spirit and philosophy that the painting conveys. Through observation, understanding, and expression of nature, the artist strives to combine the depicted scene with the artist’s state of mind and emotions, allowing the viewer to sense the philosophical and spiritual dimensions behind the painting.
Use of color :
- Although Chinese painting is primarily based on ink, color has gradually played a significant role in the artwork as the style has evolved. The colors used in Chinese paintings are mostly natural pigments, and the use of color is eclectic, focusing on the overall atmosphere and emotion of the painting.

The main types of Chinese paintings

landscape painting :
- Landscape painting is one of the most representative genres of Chinese painting, primarily depicting natural scenes such as mountains, rivers, lakes, and trees. It reflects the Chinese people’s reverence for and understanding of nature, and emphasizes the philosophical concept of “harmony between man and nature.”
- Landscape artists often create their works based on their own perceptions of nature, rather than simply sketching. Common landscape painting styles include “high mountains and rivers” and “small landscapes.”
Flower and bird paintings :
- Flower and bird paintings primarily depict various flowers and birds, and their relationship to their natural environment. These paintings are often rich in symbolic meaning, and the choice of flowers and birds often reflects the artist’s emotions or expectations.
- For example, peony symbolizes wealth, chrysanthemum symbolizes purity, and cranes and carp are often used to express longevity and auspiciousness.
Figure painting :
- Figure painting is an important genre in Chinese painting. It depicts portraits, stories, or scenes of people. Figure painting focuses not only on the detailed depiction of appearance, but also on the person’s spirit, temperament, and emotions.
- This type of work is often used to describe historical figures, ancient literati, or characters in myths and legends, emphasizing the expression of the characters’ personalities and spiritual temperament.
Flower and animal paintings :
- Flower and animal paintings often depict the characteristics of specific plants and animals, incorporating the artist’s emotions and life experiences. This type of work is particularly common in meticulous painting, where the artist meticulously depicts every detail to create a vivid image of the plant and animal.

Artistic Theory of Chinese Painting

Vivid and lively :
- “Qiyun Shengdong” is a key concept in Chinese painting theory, referring to the vitality and rhythm inherent in a painting. This qiyun is not only the expression of the brush and ink, but also represents the spiritual connotation and vitality of nature that the artist wants to convey.
artistic conception :
- Artistic conception is one of the most important artistic pursuits in Chinese painting. Chinese painting not only depicts external forms but also conveys the artist’s inner emotions, philosophical thoughts, and worldview through these forms. Artists often employ concise brushstrokes and the use of white space to create a poetic atmosphere, allowing viewers to experience this silent poetry within the painting.
Brush and ink techniques :
- The techniques of Chinese painting are not only reflected in the use of the brush, but also include the variation of brushstrokes, the use of ink color, and the arrangement of composition. In the creative process, painters often use techniques such as “writing”, “dotting”, “picking”, and “hooking” to express the form and charm of objects.

The development history of Chinese painting

The development of Chinese painting can be divided into several stages, from ancient primitive paintings to modern artistic expressions, and each period has its own unique characteristics and style.

Pre-Qin Period : The earliest Chinese paintings appeared in the Pre-Qin period. Most of the paintings at that time were decorations on pottery and utensils, mainly depicting animals, plants, totems and mythological stories.
Han Dynasty : The Han Dynasty was an important period in the development of Chinese painting. Murals and silk paintings appeared, and painters began to focus on the depiction of figures, animals and natural scenery, and formed a relatively mature freehand style.
Tang and Song Dynasties : The Tang Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese painting, with painters focusing on detail and vivid expression. Song Dynasty painters emphasized the refinement of brushwork and introduced the artistic concept of “artistic conception.”
Ming and Qing Dynasties : During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the personalities and styles of painters were diverse, ranging from realism to freehand brushwork. Whether it was landscape, figure or flower and bird paintings, they all had extremely high artistic standards.
Modern and Contemporary : Modern Chinese painting has integrated Western painting techniques based on traditional techniques and developed new forms of expression. Many painters have begun to seek modern presentations and to innovate and experiment.

The cultural connotations of Chinese painting

Chinese painting is not only an art form; it also carries the rich cultural connotations of China. The elements in these paintings, such as landscapes, flowers and birds, and figures, often hold symbolic meanings, representing philosophical concepts within traditional Chinese culture, such as the harmony of nature in Taoist thought, the ethics of Confucianism, and the transcendence of emptiness in Buddhist thought. Chinese painting emphasizes the harmonious unity between the artist’s inner world and the external world, showcasing the unique Chinese understanding of nature, the philosophy of life, and the laws of the universe.

In general, Chinese painting is an art form with a profound cultural heritage. It not only displays the beauty of art through unique techniques and expressions, but also conveys rich philosophy and emotions through each painting.