“Making friends by writing” was an enduring tradition of ancient Chinese scholars. So it is quite usual for Chinese scholars to form an association for academic discussion. In the early 20th century, under the influence of western learning schools, newemerging Chinese intellectuals found their collective consciousness grow gradually. Considering pursuing their academic ideals and tactically fighting for social positions of their own, some Chinese western painters back from studies abroad organized the Western Painting Society by shared interest. The society set its aim at cultural enlightenment and tried to introduce western civilization. Such societies were no longer meetings for scholars’ selfentertainment but possessed the many features of modern societies. Their professionalism projected differences between modern and traditional societies and other folk organizations, which presented a miniature of Chinese intellectuals’ change social identity in modern times.

painter group in the early days of the Republic of China; scholar society; Western Painting Society