相传，戴本孝每年恰逢其时，都去和县丰山赏宋时诗人杜默手植蝴蝶梅和画梅。传说 戴本孝画作这一次又去写生画了数笔，终不满意。直到入夜时分，月亮从云层中钻出，露出笑脸。是时皓月当空，梅树疏影横斜，暗香浮动，婆娑起舞。戴本孝见之灵感大发，急忙展纸泼墨，运笔如神助之，尽兴挥毫，丝丝入扣，出神入化。谁知刚画了半树梅花，云遮月隐，月亮又悄然躲进云层。他只得手执半树梅稿，怏怏作罢而归。然而这已经画好了的半枝梅花别具风姿，深得众赞:"画别出心裁，画出梅的风骨，正因半枝梅而别开生面。"戴本孝遂心大悦，于画面题款"半枝梅"。从此，半枝梅的传说也就不胫而走了。
       其笔下的山石多用枯笔醮焦墨皴擦而出体面，很少用线条勾勒山石结构，也较少点苔。在构图布境上属意元人意境的空疏高旷，但并不专仿元人笔墨。他重视"师法自然"，因而笔下的山川丘壑变化多端，但画面的意境清旷，意趣高逸。内容多借山水抒发自己荒僻幽寂的心境和对社会变迁的沧桑之感。画史将其列入清初新安派。戴本孝生性放达，遍游名山大川，一路广交朋友，纵情山水，作诗绘画，创作出诸多精品。戴本孝的画作精品多以黄山为素材，最有影响的有《望天都峰》、《炼丹台》、《登莲花峰》等。亦工书法及诗，著有《前生诗稿》、《余生诗稿》等，部分画稿收藏于中国博物馆。

【得废谷皮纸作指掌小册，闲课一画，辄题一小诗以见意】
山气郁以苍，泉声咽而碧。此中一幽人，萧骚头欲白。安得太无情，冥然如木石。
奇情无可见，老笔渐趋迂。壁绝随云过，亭孤借石扶。染成枯寂性，或恐笑狂夫。
丛薄何蓊秽，乔木无馀阴。斧斤向天地，悲风摧我心。不知时荣者，何以答高深?
燔柴今已废，岳灵杳何托?白云来洗崖，有颂为谁斫。涛声听松崩，响逐龙湫落。
我友天地间，总是无情者。冰雪香可餐，柯叶翠盈把。一片何岩岩，服膺岁寒也。
何处无深山，但恐俗难免。一心溯真源，千载不卷转。扁舟弄桃花，此兴自不浅。
草木亦争荣，攀援与依附。凌霄桑寄生，滋蔓尚可惧。惜哉不防微，良材化枯树。
有若此林泉，何其幸无恙。逃之毫楮间，想在羲农上。展卷对高风，突兀亦孤放。
云山落吾手，笔墨解人颐。欲得浑茫气，翻多茀郁思。但知存古意，不觉更淋漓。
坐爱柴扉外，林阴满钓竿。葭昏烟棹湿，溪落水春残。不是沧波客，前津问好难

Dai Benxiao (1621-1691), and the state (now in Anhui Province and county), one for Xiuning. The word number Zhan, No. Hugh before the child, life is not official to the commoner Hideyushan A mountain, so the number of eagle A mountain firewood, alias Huangshui Lake fisherman, Taihua stone old man, the Qing Dynasty painter. Xing Xi, and the painter, poet Jiang, Gong Xian, Shi Tao and other friendly. Good painting landscape, the creation of the ancients do not rigidly adhere to the ancient law, emphasizing to "the real world" and "I use my law." Made for the volume of small scene, the style of the Yuan Dynasty Ni Zan, Wang Meng, Huang Gongwang and from the new ideas. The use of dry coke ink, composition Shuxiu, mood Qingyuan withered, nearly Yuanren's physical (Shi Tao's early landscapes have been affected by his influence). The pen of the rocks and more with a pen coke rubbing coke rubbing out a decent focus, rarely outline the structure with rocks, but also less points moss. In the composition of the layout of the territory of the intention of the empty mood Shuangkuang, but not specifically imitation yuan ink. He attached importance to the "natural division", which described the mountains and valleys varied, but the mood of the screen clear, interesting Gaoyi. Content more by landscape to express their lonely secluded state of mind and the vicissitudes of social change. Painting history to be included in the early Qing Xin'an. Dai Ben-xiao of the release, traveled mountains and rivers, all the way to make friends, indulge landscape, poetry and painting, creating a lot of fine. Dai Benxiao's paintings are mostly from Huangshan. The most influential are "Wangtudufeng", "Alchemy Terrace" and "Denglianhua". Also calligraphy and poetry, with "pre-poems", "the rest of life poetry", part of the collection of paintings in the Chinese Museum.