Abstract: Schema is a philosophy term introduced into iconology study by Ernst H. Gombrich. It has significant value for the study of Chinese garden paintings. The famous garden painting “Dong Zhuang Painting” scroll painted by Shen Zhou in 15th century, which inherits past realistic traditions and breaks new grounds for the future painters. The paper analyzed the influence of earlier paintings on “Dongzhuang Painting”, such as “Ten views in Songshan Mountain Painting”, “Long Mian Mountain Villa Painting”, and “Spring Outing Painting”, and how “Dongzhuang Painting” inspired the works of later painters, such as “Zhuozheng Garden Painting”, “Jiaoyuan Painting” and “Zhiyuan Painting”. Schema plays a pivotal role in the analysis of the relationship between its predecessors and followers, this paper reveals the role of schemata in garden painting developments and its modern significance.