Abstract: The detachment of literati's identity from scholar-officials became a turning point in literary anthology compilation as the compilation which had used to serve as a form of literary criticism began to take on an additional function of shaping social identity for literati groups. The principle of "excluding living people" was since abandoned and the compilation of works by contemporary writers started. As a result, the swaying power of interpersonal relationships excluded by the principle of "excluding living people" inserted itself into the selection process, thus undermining the exemplary principle as the only principle. The mutual restraint between the principle of exemplary texts and personal consideration became a dilemma in the process of compiling anthologies of contemporary writers, and the selection process of Yu Chu Xin Zhi is a typical example of this dilemma.

Key words: anthology of contemporary writers, principle of exemplary texts, personal consideration, social network, Yu Chu Xin Zhi