Abstract: The mid- and late Republican period witnessed a transformation in ci-poetry initiated by a group of female poets, drawing on the style of Su Shi and Xin Qiji (Su-Xin hereafter). This transformation had its origins in the female poets who, due to their experience of modern education and particularly systematic education on ci-poetry, gradually formed a new practice to write under the guidance of certain thought on ci-poetry. The direct reason for this transformation was the emphasis on literature’s social function brought about by the dramatic changes since the late 1920s, and the indirect reason was to use the Su-Xin style to correct the popular style of ci-poetry promoted by Wu Wenying. This transformation, resulting from female poets’ conscious and active choice by combining restrained and unconstrained styles, is of great significance in the history of ci-poetry.

Key words: women’s ci-poetry, scholar type, the Su-Xin style, significance in the history of ci-poetry