Abstract:

The term "three prose writers of our Qing dynasty" was popularized after the compilation and spreading of Song Luo's The Anthology of Three Prose Writers of Our Qing Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. While this term was purely Song Luo's personal coinage, it was widely accepted by his contemporaries who considered Hou Fangyu, Wei Xi, and Wang Wan as the paragons of literati for their "civilian spirits", upright personality and responsibility for the country. Song's Anthology epitomizes the cultural origins and stylistic standards of classical prose, demonstrating literati's consciousness and efforts to define, mold, and exemplify the styles of classical prose during Kangxi reign. Through the prose writing of Hou, Wei, and Wang, Song's Anthology demonstrates the plain and honest social morality during the early Qing period. The title of this anthology also suggests the establishment of a style of classical prose accepted by both the court and common people, reflecting the unique scene of civil administration during the Qing dynasty. The "three prose writers of our Qing dynasty" is a cultural construction rather than a historical fact, however, and it does not try to portray the historical landscape of classical prose during the early Qing dynasty.

Key words: "three prosers of our Qing dynasty", Song Luo, commoners, classical prose, civil administration