During the early days of the Republic of China, there is a debate on the innovation of Chinese painting in North painting circle due to a specific social context in which coexist both tradition and modernization. Among all the artists at that time, Lin shu. Chin ch'eng and Ch'en shih-tseng are considered representatives for the defense of tradition. The essay bases on the painting theories and the works of art of the three painters mentioned and investigates their discussions on the paintings of Four Wangs in the Ch'ing Dynasty, their recognition of modern Western art, and the relation of painting theories to paintings. A comprehension is to be achieved in this essay about the process in which the traditional painters of the North Painting Circle try to choose between continuity of the tradition of painting and adoption of foreign cultures. This essay is expected to explicate, through this comprehension, the North Painting Circle's establishment of the future development for the traditional Chinese Painting during the early years of the Republic of China.