The relevance of the study of Chinese abstract painting lies in the possibility of its application as a source of traditional art. The purpose of the article is to explore the features of modern Chinese abstract art and determine its significance in museums around the world. The novelty of the study is determined by the fact that Chinese abstract art cannot always be catalogued due to its dependence on a folk source. The paper provides the possibility of forming a figurative system in abstract painting and the possibility of searching for an analogue on the part of the symbolic system of fine art. The practical significance of the study is determined by the fact that the application of classifiers and systematisers to Chinese painting makes it possible to determine its components as a part of the global cultural and artistic heritage.