The force and mystique of Chao Chunghsiang is a personal spiritual world brought about by the influences of Eastern and Western culture. Shanghai historian Lu Fu-sheng believes that among artists who search for inspiration in Western as well as Eastern art, Chao is a oneof- a-kind artist. Lu comments,"Chao is unlike most artists who seek the unity and harmony of strange cultures. On a multifaceted foundation, Chao maintains the original faces of Western and Eastern culture, allowing the visual-psychological effects of the cultures' intersection, juxtaposition, contrast, and clash to become the major element of his enticing artwork." (Chao Chung-hsiang, vol. 3, Alisan Fine Arts Ltd., Hong Kong, 1999, p. 9).

Chao retains the essence of Western and Eastern art in his artworks, forming a unique visual style. He has special emotions for "ink"in Eastern art and believes that innovating Chinese art should be in promoting the core of tradition, that is, the ink painting. When Chao was residing abroad in New York in late 1950, Western abstract art was in full bloom. He saw Western masters of Abstract Expressionism innovate their works by gaining inspiration from eastern calligraphy and ink painting. This prompted his studies on ink and applying ink to his art. Chinese splash-ink painting, broken ink, and Pollock's dripping and splashing had certain influence on Chao. After the 80s, his style had become more free and unrestrained, expressing the spirit of pure abstract art.