What kind of special social class did they belong to?
The white-robed scholars were a special social class that often appeared in classical plays and novels. They were usually portrayed as young people who were born in poverty but were talented and artistic. They were usually recruited as disciples of Taoist or Buddhist sects to participate in various rituals and performances, and often played important roles such as the leader of the martial arts world. In classical novels, the white-robed scholars were often regarded as extraordinary existences with wisdom and talent that surpassed the world. They could show extraordinary talents in the fields of art, music, dance, martial arts, and so on. They were usually seen as representatives of justice and kindness, as well as having a certain social status and reputation. In some works, the white-clothed scholars would even become bosom friends with the poor and help them solve their livelihood problems. Therefore, they were regarded as a special class with humane care. It should be noted that although the white-clothed elites were depicted as a special social class in classical plays and novels, they did not have a clear and fixed social class structure in reality. It was more of a fictional setting and literary technique.