What is the specific meaning and symbolism of scholar in traditional (feudal) Chinese society

It refers to intellectuals who focus only on book knowledge, not on practice, and are detached from reality. As the idiom of "scholarly spirit" suggests.

They often look forward to "ten years of hard work, no one asked, once the world knows." But because of the book for a living, not good at dealing with people, so often uninspired, and some of them complained about the sky, pretentious. (1). Readers. In ancient times, it mostly referred to Confucian students. Dongguan Hanji - Zhao Xiao biography: "(Xiao) often white clothes, step burden, tasted from Chang'an to pass straight, on the postal pavilion, but called the scholar, stop in the pavilion door school." Tang Han Yu "and Ezhou Liu Zhongcheng book": "Boudoir, the scholar. The Poetry, the Book, the Rites, and the Music are the exercises, the benevolence and righteousness are the repairs, and the law is the bundle." Song He Wei 《春渚纪闻-杨文公鹤诞》：""Generally to the use of things, such as the old scholar, while the handwriting is childish." Mao Dun, "Miscellany of Escape", 12: "People say that he was teaching in Guangzhou before the war, and now, although he is the commander of the guerrillas, he still has a scholar's manner in every move he makes."

(2). Copyist. Tang Lin "Hades Records" Volume 1: "The big room gallery for the scripture writing room, solemn and clean, abundant supply, often dozens of scholars." Ming Chen Jiru "Pearl Boat" Volume 3: "Emperor Yang will Yu Shinan and other forty people choose articles ...... and choose two thousand people who can write for the imperial scribes, and then they will write books."