The Humanistic Spirit in the Poetry of the Qing Dynasty

Humanistic spirit means concern for human destiny and for the status-quo and future orientation of human nature and humanity, pursuance for the desired state of human nature and humanity and defense of the true, good and beautiful. In comparison with Western literature, Chinese literature has its own feature. Humanistic spirit is not the basis of Chinese literature. The poems of the Qing Dynasty embodying humanistic spirit are scattered in individual selections of poetry and has to be organized. The humanistic spirit in Qing poems are chiefly embodied in the wish for clean public morals so as to maintain pureness of human nature, secure independence of human dignity and human integrity, defend the true and the good, call for conscience, attach importance to women′s basic rights and be concerned for distress and sufferings of the people.