On Chinese Literati Painting's “Lively Spirit and Charm Style”

South Qi Sheikh put forward the theory of six principles of paintingin Review of Ancient Paintings, among which "lively spirit and charm style" is of first concern and has far-reaching significance in Chinese painting history. The concept of "lively spirit and charm style", through the inheritance and development of artists in Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, became the theoretical foundation for instructing Chinese painting techniques and an important criterion for people to evaluate and appreciate paintings.