Ming Dynasty is an important period in the history of traditional Chinese painting since it serves as a link between past and later ages. Literati painting and imperial-court decorative painting had fresh development. Artists advocated restoring old traditions and spoke highly of painting in Tang and Song dynasties. Meanwhile， they stressed reproduction of great ancient artists and then formed their own styles. During the period， there were many famous artists， lots of artistic schools and numerous top-notch painting works. Shen Zhou was the pioneer of Wumen school of painting. Wen Zhengming， Tang Yin， Qiu Ying and Shen Zhou were acclaimed as “Four Great Painters in the Ming Dynasty.” Chen Hongshou and Cui Zizhong were known as the greatest in the South and the North respectively. Wen Zhengming and his disciples created Wumen school of painting， while Dong Qichang founded Songjiang school of painting. Dong Qichang was a master of literati painting in the Yuan Dynasty as well as a model in the late Ming Dynasty. Dai Jin was the founder of Zhejiang school of painting， while Lan Ying set up Wulin school of painting（or Rear Zhejiang school of painting）。 In the Ming Dynasty， court painters， like Wang Fu， Lin Liang， Xu Yang， Guo Chun， Lü Ji， Ding Yunpeng and Bian Wenjin， emerged in succession， creating many excellent drawings.
