Chan painting is one of the unique forms of artistic expression of Chinese painting. Its characteristics of simplicity, profound in artistic concept and transcendent style of clean and pure are associated with the primary Chan approach which is pointing directly to the the sudden realization of self-nature with non-established words.

　

Chan painting prevailed in the Tang and Song dynasties, but declined during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Chan practitioners use painting and calligraphy as vehicles to practice and reveal their illumination. Influenced by the "sudden enlightenment", They don't follow the style of traditional masters, but form a new style of individualistic painting. The paintings strive to be concise and simple, without paying attention to detailed descriptions, but focusing on the profound understanding and meaningful existence, all of which have the similar meaning as Chan principle.

　

Wang Wei in the Tang Dynasty has historically been regarded as the founder of the Chan painting. Wang Wei once mentioned in his works "The Secret of Painting Technique" that Chan painting, as an art, should "be based on the original characteristics of nature and achieve the insightful and meaningful spirituality". In other words, if artists want to reach the essential of art, they should start with exhibiting the characteristics of nature, create subjective or individualistic meanings to make the art perfect. Su Shi said that: "The quality of Wang Wei’s poems can be summed as, the poems hold a painting within them. In observing his paintings you can see that, within the painting there is poetry."

　

Afterwards, Zhang zǎo and Wang Qia obtained spirituality of Wang Wei.

　

During the period of the Five Dynasties and the Song Dynasty, with the prosperity of Chan Buddhism, a group of Buddhist monks and laymen specializing in painting appeared during this period, such as Hui Chong, Mu Xi, Zhong Ren, Shi Ke, Su Shi, Liang Kai, etc. As for Mi Fu and his son, their artistic works show their insightful understanding of Chan.

　

Ten Bulls or Ten Ox Herding Pictures is a series of short poems and accompanying drawings used in the Chan tradition to describe the stages of a practitioner's progress toward enlightenment, and their return to society to enact wisdom and compassion.

　

After the Southern Song Dynasty, the grandeur of Chan painting began to decline with the decline of Chan Buddhism.

　

Yintuoluo, a painting monk in the Yuan Dynasty with no records of biography, his paintings were highly prized in Japan, in particular one of Hanshan and Shide, a National Treasure today held at the Tokyo National Museum.

　

Dong Qichang from Ming Dynasty developed the theory that Chinese painting could be divided into the northern school and the southern school, which are refer to Northern and Southern schools of Chan Buddhism. Based on his theory, by relating to the ancient masters' style, artists are to create a place for themselves within the tradition, not by mere imitation, but by extending and even surpassing the art of the past.

　

The "four great monks" Hongren, Shixi, Zhu Da, and Shi Tao appeared in the early Qing Dynasty. Their historical status and influence on future generations were enormous, and their attainments were extraordinary. The works of each eminent monk show a strong personal style and Chan spirit.

Chan Buddhism has widely influenced the historical development of Chinese philosophy, ethics, literature, and art, in the meantime, it has enriched and sublimated the artistic conception of Chinese literature.

　

The Chan Buddhism advocates "A special transmission outside the scriptures; No dependence upon words and letters; Direct pointing at the soul of man; Seeing into one's nature and the attainment of Buddhahood." Chan is not attached to anything, is formless or empty, can not be taken literally, so language must be "non-analytical" or "non-dualistic". On the one hand, it must be independent of words and letters, on the other hand it has to be inseparable from words and letters so that writing can show the beauty of "emptiness and tranquility".

　

For the sake of convenience, Chan masters used the methods of "contrasting and reflecting" and "metaphor" to express themselves with a large number of chants and verses in the form of Chan koans, quotations, and poetry. This unique literary form, expressive technique and wonderful Chan artistic conception provided inspiration for many literary creations and profoundly influenced Chinese philosophy and culture thereafter. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, many literati, such as Wang Wei, Meng Haoran, Su Dongpo, etc., have produced excellent Chan poems and Chan works.

Along with the development of Chan Buddhism, the influence of Chan Buddhism on food culture has deepened, which has developed and formed a set of unique eating habits and cuisine styles.

　

Chan diet is to use the "diet behavior" in our daily life as a method for meditation and practice.

　

According to the record of the Koan: Vinaya master Yuan asked master Dazhu Huihai, “When you practice the Way, do you use a special skill?”

　

master Dazhu Huihai said, “I do.”

　

Yuan asked, “What is it?”

　

Great Pearl said, “ When I'm hungry I eat. When I get sleepy I sleep.”

　

The Chan's "eat when hungry comes, sleep when sleepy" is a daily practice in Buddhism. It takes daily walking, sitting, sleeping, eating, dressing and sleeping as the path of practice, closely integrates the true meaning of Buddhism and practioner's daily Life, eventually to reach Buddhahood in a simple way.

　

Tea Chan, also called Tea Ceremony Zen or Tea Ceremony Zen, means that Buddhist Chan masters use tea activities (or tea Ceremony) as a way of practicing Chan and enlightenment.

　

In order to avoid killing and the use of irritating ingredients, there are Buddhist cuisine in Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other places, and they have formed a unique style of cuisine. For example, Japanese kaiseki cuisine, Shojin cuisine.