I came across an interesting article about Chinese painting styles:
http://home.flash.net/~cameron/painting ... styles.htm
All are considered to be unique and traditional. Painters, I believe, choose and follow the style that helps them to express themselves better.
The first style emphasizes accuracy and elegancy through drawing carefully.
The second one – literally called "intent/idea painting" (xie yi) – emphasizes painting with less details trying to express the underlying idea, inner realm of an object.
The third one I suppose is kind of combination of the both above.
I find it to be an interesting analogy that may be applied to various spheres including IMA.