Abstract: In the late Ming Dynasty, Jiangnan intellectuals were keen on collection and appreciation of ancient books, calligraphy, paintings, jades, bronzes, porcelains and other types of cultural relics. They focused on art characteristics and cultural connotations of antiques, advocating simple, elegant, natural, implicit aesthetic tastes. Together with friends they enjoyed their collection and wrote poems or comments, which became their important part of spiritual life. Faced with an increasingly difficult living environment, Jiangnan intellectuals hid themselves in their studies and relics, trying to avoid earthly trouble and political risk. They wanted to use the joy of spiritual life to ease the pain of real life. However, they did not stay away from reality. They paid special attention to distinguish between elegance and vulgarity in order to exclude powerful officials and wealthy businessmen, and at the same time intellectuals’ selfconsciousness was also unceasingly aroused. Therefore, they retained some selfesteem and selfconfidence, and upheld the intellectual class moral principles, not completely subservient to pressures of power and money.