The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of Zen thought in the late Ming Dynasty on the development of contemporaneous literati painting. Firstly, the development history of Zen thought culture is sorted out, including the birth of Zen thought, its continuous dissemination and the distribution of the northern and southern sects. Secondly, the development of China's painting and calligraphy works under Zen thought is elaborated, emphasizing the important position of Zen thought culture in the field of painting and calligraphy. Then, it focuses on the influence of Zen thought on the contemporaneous literati paintings in the late Ming Dynasty, including the influence on the concepts and aesthetic interests of literati paintings, as well as the influence on the techniques and expressive methods. Through the analysis of typical literati painters and their works, the representative figures of Zen thought in the late Ming Dynasty and their works are specifically introduced, and their artistic characteristics and Zen embodiment are interpreted and analyzed. Further, the revelation of Zen thought in the late Ming Dynasty to contemporary literati painting is discussed, emphasizing the significance of Zen thought to the inheritance and development of contemporary literati painting, and suggesting specific methods to integrate Zen thought into the creation of contemporary literati painting. Finally, the influence of Zen thought in late Ming Dynasty on the development of contemporaneous literati painting is summarized through conclusions and outlooks, and outlooks and suggestions are made for future research.