The two major periods in Chinese landscape painting that are often discussed are the Northern Song (960-1127) and the Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties.
While there are some similarities, there are also distinct differences in terms of style, technique, and the philosophical underpinnings. Artists of the Northern Song dynasty favored the use of ink and wash techniques. They used a monochromatic palette with varying ink tones to create landscapes that were often serene, subtle, and focused on the harmony of nature.
Artists during this period paid great attention to precision and detail in depicting landscapes. They often created meticulous representations of mountains, rivers, and other natural elements.