Originally , people referred to the Chinese painting as distinguished from the Western painting , including the scroll painting , the mural painting , the Spring Festival picture , the print , etc ., Now it refers to painting using special Chinese tools and materials , viz , brushes , inkstones , etc ., and done according to the traditions handed down since a long time past .
The Chinese painting is not a scientific concept in accordance with the classification of arts . As per instruments and materials , it can include water ink or color ink painting , on a par with oil painting , water color painting , woodcut and gouache . As per uses , it can include mural painting , story books , Spring Festival pictures and illustrations . As per subject matter , it can include figure painting and landscape painting . The Chinese painting has a long history and unique features . It epitomizes the Chinese painting traditions and innovations in the modern era , and forms its own system in the realm of fine arts in the world . It is an important component of the Eastern painting system. 
The Chinese painting is divided into three branches : the figure painting , the landscape painting , the landscape painting , and the flower and bird painting . The painting technique is divided mainly into two kinds : fine brushwork and freehand brushwork , It is mounted either in the form of a roll , or a scroll , or an album , or a screen panel , or in some other form .
The appreciation of the traditional Chinese painting is influenced by the traditional Chinese philosophy , which advocates observing the micro by way of the macro , and vice versa , not to be limited by a definite 
space and time , and not laying emphasis on the light and shadow of or the changes in color , or the detail of the external feature . The painter’s perspective is mobile and many sided , and is not limited by a definite standpoint . The painter’s effort is directed to observing the implicit essence and spirit of the object rather than the exact external appearance , i.e. ., omitting some detail but stressing the essence .
The appreciation of the Chinese painting embodies the special Chinese aesthetic habits of lodging the sentiments in the objects . An apparent emotion is often present in appreciating objects that have no emotions originally , e.g., hills , rivers , flowers and birds . The painter makes an effort to capture the features of the objects connected with the human aesthetic feelings and spiritual life . Through memorizing the form and exerting the imagination , a mental image is formed that combines with the painter’s personality , sentiments and feelings . That is what is called having the plan or image in the mind .
