Deviation and Return： Wu Jingzi's Life Choices and Cultural Pursuits

Born into a family dedicated to imperial examinations, Wu Jingzi was nurtured by the family tradition of upholding Confucianism and adhering to scholarly duties. In his early years, he devoted himself to both examination prose and poetry. Beset by life vicissitudes and repeated failures in the imperial examinations, he turned to pursuing immortality through literary creation. The Scholars not only depicts scholars' diverse demeanors vividly, but also embodies the author's Confucian ideals and sincere aspirations. In his later years, Wu Jingzi took the study of Confucian classics as his life's calling. This choice carried forward his family's long-standing tradition of classical scholarship, and reflected his commitment to Confucian doctrines as well as his firm identification and return to the identity of a traditional intellectual. From seeking official achievement to pursuing literary immortality, Wu Jingzi accomplished the transformation of his persona and the sublimation of his moral integrity from an examination candidate and a litterateur to a true Confucian intellectual.