Dust Career Self

The main object of this paper is the image of women in the late Qing Dynasty courtesan literature. The study focus on their self-management behaviors in social life and emotional life, as well as their female subject consciousness with characteristics of independent, initiative and dominant. To explore their value and significance at the junction of classic and modern,which is hidden behind the notoriety.The paper is divided into five parts. First part is the introduction, it summarizes the purpose of this article, the research on the topic from the courtesan literature, the late Qing literature and sociology,and the research method used in this paper. In Chapterl, I attempt to show the uniqueness of objective conditions of prostitute’s survival background in the late Qing Dynasty, including the commercial prosperity of the society in Shanghai, the changing of service groups and the open of public space. In Chapter2, it takes emphasis on the prostitutes’ self-management on their economic and social life, which is reflected in the professional self-identity, self-packaging and marketing,and the appearance of the "businesswomen" group. In Chapter3. it takes emphasis on the prostitutes’ self-management on their emotional life,including the reset and conversion of the gender’s relationship between the prostitutes and the guests, and the release of female lust between the prostitutes and their lovers.In Chapter4, I try to explore the value and significance of the women in the late Qing Dynasty courtesan literature. In the context of the past Chinese brothel literature, they reflect the rebellious against materialized and objectified of traditional prostitutes. At the entrance of modern literature, they also reflect the modern qualities in social and emotional life.