The author classifies the material systemically and underscores everything for the readers. As he recounts the long history of Chinese painting, he defines its tradition through the ages, The author writes about the pictures drawn by early men of the Neolithic period, the successive dynasties, and the contemporary Chinese paintings that have inherited and developed those traditions. He even probes early man’s understanding and concept of painting from pictures mentioned in mythology and legends, and painted on unearthed relics. The author provides throughout a running commentary on representative painters of the various periods, their works and aesthetics. With b&w and color illustrations and photographs.