The Manchurian Pneumonic Plague outbreak in 1910 was a devastating epidemic that claimed thousands of lives and highlighted the vulnerabilities of public health systems. The outbreak prompted early international responses, including the implementation of protective personal face masks to curb the spread of the disease. This event underscored the importance of global health cooperation and the need for effective public health measures in the face of infectious diseases.

Wu Lien-teh's pioneering scientific anti-plague measures became a focal point for early Chinese modernizing literature, symbolizing the shift from imperial tradition to globalized scientific medicine. Poets began to reflect on the intersection of science and culture, exploring themes of progress and societal change.