Abstract: Qiyun is an important concept in traditional Chinese aesthetics. From the early 20^th century, western sinologists and art historians have been engaged in the translation and interpretation of qiyun and changed its meaning into rhythm. These translations and interpretations have inspired modern Chinese aestheticians to reconsider this concept. Western aestheticians misunderstood qiyun as rhythm, because they have found that both modern Western paintings and traditional Chinese paintings appreciated the rhythm of lines. Nevertheless, qiyun is not rhythm. Rhythm in modern paintings is more akin to xieyi, another important concept of traditional Chinese aesthetics.

Key words: qiyun, rhythm, Chinese painting, modern art