Chinese painting is a distinctive style of painting where the focus is not on realistic representation of objects as is the case in much Western art, but rather symbolic and expressionist representation. Other distinctive differences between Chinese painting and Western painting is the way color is used and perspective. Some styles of Chinese painting use only minimal colors or are monochromatic. Perspective can be moving (near, middle, far distance) rather than fixed (one-point).
Chinese painting has a very long history spanning centuries. It evolved from calligraphy to monochromatic paintings done with black ink, through different approaches in various eras, to contemporary approaches using these traditions.
The art materials used in Chinese painting are known as the Four Treasures: the brush, paper, ink stick, and ink stone or slate. One famous set of rules or techniques of Chinese Painting is known as The Six Canons and was set by the master painter Hsieh Ho (c500 AD).
For an introduction to Chinese painting, read A Look at Chinese Painting from the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
