Abstract: Intellectual women earning their living is a phenomenon that can not be overlooked in the history of the life of Chinese women, especially in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) when they were forced to do so either because their husbands died, their husbands served office afar, their husbands could not make proper living or because their family economy had failed. They were not only capable of running the whole family, but also showed great wisdom and courage doing so. This phenomenon not only helped promoting women's social position as well as stability and future prosperity of a family, but also, to a certain extent, helped formation and development of women's social circles. Although their means of making living was limited compared with that of men, and their deeds were not infrequently mocked by the public, their achievements can never be covered up. Their appearance marked the rise of women's social standing and the transformation of women's image, and provided a new perspective for later generations to better understand the history of women of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Key words: Ming and Qing Dynasties, intellectual woman, earning living, significance, limitation