Xieyi painting's enduring significance lies in its rich history, philosophical depth, and emphasis on personal expression, spontaneity, and the pursuit of essence, connecting with audiences through its timeless aesthetic, connection to nature, and human spirit, while contemporary artists ensure its continued practice, evolution, and relevance in the world of art.

"Contrasting Ink" (nóngdànmò) in Xieyi uses both dark and light ink strategically to create depth, volume, texture, and atmosphere through visual contrast, with dark ink creating boldness and light ink adding distance and subtlety, requiring skilled blending to create tonal gradations, expressive depth, and nuanced interplay of light and shadow.

"Qing" (feeling) is a fundamental concept in Xieyi painting, emphasizing the importance of artists imbuing their work with personal emotion and genuine expression, requiring sensitivity, observation, and technical skill to convey feelings through brushstrokes, composition, and connecting with viewers on a deeply human level.

Trees are a powerful subject in Xieyi painting, depicted through expressive brushwork and washes to capture their unique forms, textures, and symbolic representations of longevity, growth, resilience, and the connection between the human and natural realms, conveying both beauty and a profound appreciation for the cycles of life.

"Tian Qu" (natural charm) is a key aesthetic ideal in Xieyi painting, emphasizing a sense of effortless freedom, spontaneity, and a deep connection to nature, requiring artists to let their intuition guide the creative process, resulting in works that feel both deeply moving and authentically beautiful.

Xieyi painting is also influenced by Chinese folk art, through its emphasis on boldness, simplicity, vibrant colors, directness, and storytelling, enriching the art form with expressive forms, a more accessible feel, and narratives that connect it to everyday life, history, and folklore.

"Yi Qian Bi Hou" (intention before the brush) is central to Xieyi, emphasizing the importance of having a clear vision and intention before painting, so that brushstrokes naturally express the artist's inner feelings and ideas, requiring thoughtful preparation, and guiding brushwork with creativity and personal vision.

Mountains in Xieyi are depicted through washes and suggestive strokes to capture their grandeur, scale, texture, and symbolic connection to stability, timelessness, and the human-nature relationship, reflecting the artist's emotional response to their beauty, power, and mystery.

The "Reversed Brush" (nìfēng) in Xieyi involves starting a stroke by moving the brush in the opposite direction, then reversing to create strong, textured, dynamic lines, conveying a sense of force, resistance, and visual interest, while requiring precise control and a deep understanding of brush responsiveness.

"Gu Yi" (ancient intention) in Xieyi emphasizes an artist's engagement with tradition, seeking to absorb the spirit and principles of past masters, studying their techniques and cultural context to create work that honors the legacy of the art form and contributes to its ongoing evolution.