Calligraphy is regarded as the highest form of visual arts in China and the neighboring states such as Japan and Korea, of which their culture are greatly influenced by China. Artists expressed their thought, imagination and feeling in calligraphy using only brushes, ink and paper. Chinese paintings are usually accomplished with calligraphy to name the title of the work. Chinese painting in ancient time is not as colorful as the western painting. They are, just like calligraphy, using brushes, ink and paper.
Color plays very minor role in a good painting.
Although nature, mountain, human and other beings are the subjects of the painting, the main themes of the art works are purposed to reflecting artist's imagination and thoughts. Chinese painting seldom resembles the true appearance of the subject but through the existence of the subject and the environment to bring the viewer into artist inside world. Music, chess, poetry and visual arts are the four main measurements for all scholars. Many of the artists were senior government officers. The poets written in different stages of Chinese history reflected the true political and social structure at that time.