A theory of painting was dealt with in various literary works on painting such as "Ronga" by GU Kaizhi in Jin, " Preface to the Landscape Paintings" by SUNG Ping and "Joga" by WANG Wei in the Sung period and "Kogahinroku" by SHA Kaku in Qi (the Southern Dynasty), and soon kiin (elegance) began to be respected.
画芸について晋の顧愷之の『論画』、宋代の宗炳の『画山水序』・王微の『叙画』、斉(南朝)の謝赫の『古画品録』などの画論でその理論が模索され、やがて気韻を貴ぶようになる。