沈周的绘画为传统山水画作出了两大贡献:其一，融南入北，弘扬了文人画的传统。如沈周的粗笔山水，用笔融进了浙派的力感和硬度，丘壑增添了守人之骨和势，将南宋的苍茫浑厚与北宗之壮丽清润融为一体，其抒发的情感也由清寂冷逸而变为宏阔平和。其二，将诗书画进一步结合起来。Shen Zhou's paintings have made two great contributions to traditional landscape paintings. First, they merge the south into the north and carry forward the tradition of literati paintings. For example, Shen Zhou's rough brush landscapes melted the strength and hardness of the Zhejiang School with his brush. Qiu Qi added the strength and momentum of guardianship. He integrated the vastness and richness of the Southern Song Dynasty with the magnificence and moisturity of the Northern Sect. His emotions also changed from quiet and calm to magnificent and peaceful. Second, we should further combine poetry, calligraphy and painting.