The Image of Wu Ju in the Narrative Literary Works from the Ming Dynasty

Based on the analysis of novel, drama, baojuan, tanci, and gushu narrative literature, this paper conducted some analysis of Wu Ju description, finding that Wu Ju functions more as background characters than heroes in literary works. Its image is not clear cut, being either somewhat learned or female. The emergence of Wu Ju increased the chivalrous literature and the plot of martial art works, making this type characters draw lessons from each other. As a result they enriched the literary narrative type. Either fabricated or rewritten in historical events, the literary works revealed a real concept of history and the society namely "priority of the learned over the martial practitioners". That is, although fictions are literary works, they revealed some realities.