Wang Qishu was a figure caught in a cultural dilemma. We can observe the literature and culture of the prosperous Qianlong era from a different perspective.

This project aims to write a monograph from a micro-perspective, focusing on Wang Qishu (1728-1799), to study the relationship between literature and various cultural aspects during the Qianlong period, as well as the psychological state of literati during that time. We will discover that material culture, economic conditions, and social status influence the reception, creation, and value of literature, and also contribute to the negotiation and conflict between tradition and modernity (during the Qianlong era). Wang was active during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. He was a salt merchant, collector, poet, and official who enjoyed traveling, making friends, and compiling books. His lifelong activities were intertwined with the cultural circles of that time, granting him a unique socio-economic status. However, he could not become a prominent figure within the cultural sphere. When the Siku Quanshu Library was established, he was one of the most generous book donors, second only to Bao Tingbo, and received rewards from the emperor. He was also renowned for his passion for seal collecting, and his compilation Feihong Tang Seal Catalog is one of the most important seal catalogs of the Qing Dynasty. However, his achievements in poetry and literature were rarely discussed, and his works were not widely circulated. Donating money to obtain official position prevented him from being on par with the scholarly class who passed examinations. Qing records often sarcastically portrayed his antiquarian tendencies. Even in modern compilations of Qing poetry history and anthologies, he is seldom mentioned. In summary, Wang Qishu was a figure caught in a cultural dilemma. Through his traces, social interactions, and literary activities, we can observe the literature and culture of the prosperous Qianlong era from a different perspective.