Introduced by the artist and historian Xie He, Huihua (Chinese Painting) Liufa (The Six Criteria, also known as the Six Principles or Six Laws) is a set of guidelines for ink painters that serve as a foundation for traditional Chinese painting. The guidelines focus on essential elements that contribute to creating a successful work of art. The criteria are as follows:

(1) Spirit Resonance: Capturing the essence or energy of the subject;

(2) Structural use of the brush: The skilful and expressive use of the brush to create the structure and form of the painting;

(3) Proper representation of objects: Accurately representing the shapes, lines and forms of subjects in the painting;

(4) Specific colouration of objects: Applying appropriate colours according to subject matter and when considering layers, value and tone;

(5) Division and planning: The thoughtful arrangement and organisation of elements within the painting, creating a harmonious and balanced composition with space and depth;

(6) Transmission by copying or reproduction: Learning from and copying the works of past masters to maintain consistency and accuracy, and to develop one’s own artistic skills.