Literati

Literati is a term used to describe educated, scholarly individuals who are recognized for their literary, philosophical, or cultural contributions. The word comes from Latin literatus "lettered, educated" and is used in several cultures to refer to a learned class or circle of writers and thinkers who influence public life.

In imperial China, the literati, or shi, formed a scholarly gentry class. Through the civil service examination, many became official administrators, but they also composed poetry, essays, and calligraphy. They upheld Confucian learning, controlled patronage and local governance, and were instrumental in shaping literary and cultural norms. The literati tradition valued personal cultivation and moral rectitude; paintings often integrated poetry and imagery as a product of scholar-artists. Their power declined in the late Qing and during republican reforms, but their cultural legacy persisted.

In Europe, the term has been used to describe educated writers and critics who wove together literary production and social commentary. From the Enlightenment through the 19th century, salons, journals, and academies gathered the literati, who debated philosophy, science, and politics. The label can imply both prestige and detachment from commerce or policy.

In contemporary usage, literati may refer to the body of educated readers, writers, and academics engaged in literary culture. The word can indicate a social or cultural circle, sometimes with connotations of elitism or insularity, but it likewise signals consumption and production of literature and ideas.