Since the exchange of calligraphy and painting between the envoys of the Ming Dynasty officially began in the 15th century, the diversity and flexibility have directly determined the different roles in the fields of poetry, friendship and diplomacy, and cultural output. At that time, there were three types of painting and calligraphy exchanges among Korean envoys, namely, making painting and writing, giving and receiving gifts, applying painting and writing.
Talented civil officials in painting and calligraphy would draw pictures and left books on their missions in Korea, then actively participated in the exchange, which was often accompanied by the singing of poems and prose. In the 15th century, most of the cases were for the political purpose of promoting mutual friendship and strengthening cultural identity between the two countries. On the other hand, with the deepening of their understanding of Korean painting and calligraphy, the envoys of the Ming Dynasty were not only very fond of the gift given by the Korean royal family, but also yearning for the famous Haidong brush, so it was common to ask for paintings and books at that time.
The diversity of communication modes of painting and calligraphy determines the universality and cheapness. Compared with the poetry and prose singing, which have higher requirements on participants' literary accomplishment and poetics level, the communication threshold of painting and calligraphy is lower. Civil envoys who are not good at calligraphy and painting can also communicate with each other indirectly by giving them books and drawings as gifts. On the other hand, the particularity of painting and calligraphy itself makes it naturally cheap to give and receive. When envoys of the Ming Dynasty chose calligraphy and painting as gifts, they often gave them to Korean officials who were close to them on unofficial and formal occasions, so the gift and receiving would not bring too much burden to both sides.
Finally, from the perspective of "Korea-China cultural exchange history" and "East Asian art history", the significance of the 15th century Korean envoys' painting and calligraphy exchanges is mainly reflected in the introduction of new "painting themes". The painting style had an important influence on the style of Korean painting and laid the foundation for the flourishing exchange of calligraphy and painting between the 16th and 17th centuries in The Korean and Ming Dynasty.