There are four types of traditional Chinese ink paintings: people paintings, landscape paintings, flower and bird paintings, and calligraphy. All four of these styles make use of the color black, which, according to master ink brush painter Zeng Laide, is “the synthesis of all colors.” This conception of black as more important than color is different from how many western cultures conceive of it, allowing multiple layers of meaning to be derived from a few simple brushstrokes. This video explores how the tradition of ink painting came to be, examining its cultural and spiritual influences, as well as exploring the multitude of different painting styles. Ink painting’s rich history is honored here, as are those who continue to teach and refine its practice today.