The Chinese love of arts is spiritual and deep. Yet with all their intricacy, their paintings and carvings are often very difficult for Westerners to understand or appreciate.
Chinese painting has many formulas which aid in the creation as well as evaluation of their mastery.
To begin with, the artist must come into a communion with their Tao and be in peace, letting the ink flow into more than a representation of a scene, but a spiritual creation of spirit and harmony on paper. Though a piece of art may have the likeness of the original, if it doesn't show its spirit it is a complete failure. So-called rhythm means that the forms of objects, expressed or unexpressed, are harmonious and never fall into vulgarity. By thought is meant selection of essentials and concentration of the mind on the outward forms of objects. By scenery is meant that some of the conventional institutions and laws of seasonal changes must be observed.