Abstract：Yao Hua is a famous theorist of calligraphy and painting of the late Qing Dynasty. He defined Chinese painting as a kind of metaphysical art and believed that the painting should be out of nature and“painter's pen follows where his mind reaches”. In terms of the painting pattern, he thought that painters should eliminate all prejudices, go beyond the traditional restraints and seek for a state of “self-comfort”. In terms of the painting's conception and appreciation, he proposed two famous aesthetic ideal theories: “if the artists are blindly eager for beauty, the truth will be neglected, and vise versa. ”and“to appreciate beauty while it's not”.

Keyword：Yao Hua;advocating nature;self-comfort;aesthetic ideal;