Chinese painting is commonly called as "National Painting" or "Native Painting". The techniques are essentiall the same as ones applied for Chinese calligraphy. Brushes are used with black or colored ink, oils are not used at all.

Even though Chinese painting can be done on walls, lacquerwork, pottery, and other media, it is typically done on paper or silk. The paper is special rice paper. For display and storage, the painting is mounted on scrolls. The scrolls can be hung at home or office for decoration.

Two main techniques are adopted in Chinese Painting:

1. Meticulous: Great details are drawn.
2. Freehand: watercolor or brush painting, more draw the impression of the world around the artist.

Writer, Art Historian and Critic Xie He (Also known as Hsieh Ho) created "Six Principles of Chinese Painting". In 550 A.D., he wrote the book: "The Record of the Classification of Old Painters". The following is the list of six elements of Chinese Painting from Xie He:

1. "Spirit Resonance" - Vitality of Painting, This refers to the life of the painting. It must be vibrant and resonsant. It is artist's nervous energy reflected in the painting. This is the most critical point of a great painting.
2. "Bone Method" - Brush Usage and Line Structures. A good painting must have good brushwork, and a sound structure must be established in the painting. This also includes the brush line stroke and texture. The calligraphy techniques may also been seen in the painting. Brush stroke styles are commonly believed reflecting the artists personality.
3. "Correspondence to the Object" - Likeness to the Object. If a painting depicts a object or many objects, the painting should accurately depict the form of the object, shape, color and impression.
4. "Suitability to Type" - Painting Hues, this refers to the application of color, including layers, value and tone.
5. "Division and Planning" - Composition of Painting, A good painting should have a well arranged composition. This includes spacing, arranagement and depth of lines and colors.
6. "Transmission by Copying" - Inheritance of Tradition. A good painting is created by partially learning from works of antiquity.

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