There are two main techniques in Chinese painting:

Chinese artists do not usually paint real places but imaginary, idealized landscapes. Chinese painting in general is seen as an extension of calligraphy and uses the same brushstrokes. The colors are restrained and subtle and the paintings are usually created in ink on paper, with a small amount of watercolor.

This is the aim of the traditional Chinese painter: to capture not only the outer appearance of a subject but its inner essence as well—its energy, life force, spirit. To accomplish his goal, the Chinese painter more often than not rejected the use of color.

• Gongbi (工笔 /gong-bee/), literally ‘working pen’, is a meticulous style, rich in color and detailed brush strokes.
• Xieyi (写意 /sshyeah-ee/ ‘writing’ ), meaning “freehand”, is a looser style of painting, and usually used in landscapes.

shanshui literally means mountain water. Used together, mountain and water represent the word landscape. Instead of representing two elements of an image they represent two complementary poles. The mountain is the YANG which reaches the heaven vertically ,stable,warm and dry in the sun.

shanshui is the concept in chinese culture which means ‘mountain water”. here, mountain means yang- going vertically towards heaven. it is high, warm, dry in sun, and masculine. the water represents yin- floating on the surface of earth. it is calm, cool, and supposedly femanine.

In shan shui paintings, there are three basic elements that make up a painting: Mountains, rivers, and on occasion, waterfalls. Hence the Chinese name shan shui (“Mountain-water”) for landscape art!

Answer: The Middle Void is vital as nothing can happen without it. This is the reason why the white, unpainted space in Chinese landscape is imperative. This is also where Man finds a fundamental role, in the yogic practice of pranayama we breathe in, retain and breathe out.

The Chinese artist does not paint a landscape from one point of view only. He writes to the viewer to participate in his landscape both physically and mentally. This mens that the viewer can enter the painting, not physically but mentally and spiritually.

Shanshui literally means ‘mountain water’ that represents ‘landscape’. Mountain is Yang, that is stable, warm, dry and reaches vertically towards the heaven. While the water is Yin that is fluid, moist, cool and horizontally resting on earth.

He told the Emperor that a spirit lived in the cave which was at the foot of the mountain. As he clapped his hands, the entrance to the cave opened. He told the Emperor that the inside of the cave was splendid and offered to show His Majesty the way.

What do the books about Confucius and Zhuangzi contain and what do they help in doing? Answer: The books about Confucius and Zhuangzi contain many anecdotes that deeply reveal the spirit in which art was considered in their days. These anecdotes helped the masters to guide their disciples in the right direction.