The Life Narrative of Rural Private Teachers in the Ming and Qing Dynasties- Taking Pu Songling as an Example

“Mr. Liaozhai”, Pu Songling' s lifelong career was as a rural private teacher. He integrated relevant life experiences into his creations, and his works have become a true portrayal of the imperial examination and livelihood situation of lower class students. . Pu Songling’s career as a rural private teacher was characterized by three attributes: livelihood, exam preparation, and educational practice. The narrative of "crying for poverty" and educational writing in his works not only reflect the helplessness of poor scholars who were forced to teach in private schools due to the ups and downs of the imperial examination system, but also imply a satire on the lack of dignity in teaching. Under the pressures of the imperial examination system, the group of village schoolteachers during the Ming and Qing dynasties generally faced declining professional status and economic hardship. Nevertheless, through moral guidance, cultural dissemination, and social education, they became an important force in local governance. Examining Pu Songling’s individual experience helps unveil the complexity of the village schoolteacher profession under the imperial examination system and the profound tension between the professional aspirations of lower-class scholars and their harsh realities within traditional educational frameworks.