Abstract: The Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) is an epoch-making historical event which directly shook the foundation of the Qing Dynasty and had a great influence on the gentry society. The gentry’s reading record contained their views on the political situation at the time. Through the newspapers and periodicals, they established a " net of meaning” with the outside world. They were full of imagination and concern for the political situation and the " others.” Newspapers shortened the " distance” between news events and them, thus allowing them to experience the tremendous impact of news, deepen their comprehension of the War, and develop a stronger sense of worry about the future of China and the Chinese nation. In this sense, reading was inseparable from political crisis, ideological enlightenment and social change movement in the wartime.