What is the difference between Chinese paintings and Western oil paintings? Is it only the materials and techniques? Absolutely not.

The most important point is the spirit of the paintings. Chinese paintings focus more on nature, while Western oil paintings focus more on humanity. That is why Chinese paintings are mainly about landscape while portraits are commonly found in Western oil paintings.

And the root of this, I think, is religion. In Chinese, the Buddhism always encourages being in harmony with nature and totally forgetting oneself. Here nature is the host of human. But in Western countries, it's God who creates the world. God, essentially man himself, is the host of the nature. That's the very difference!