The historical prototype of Wu Dalang is Wu Zhi, a Jinshi of the Ming Dynasty. Wu Dalang was a native of Wujiana Village, Qinghe County, Hebei Province. Although he was born in poverty, he was extremely intelligent, advocating literature and martial arts. He passed the Jinshi examination in his middle age and served as the magistrate of Yanggu County, Shandong Province. Therefore, the real historical prototype of Wu Dalang is Wu Zhi, a Jinshi of the Ming Dynasty. In "Water Margin", Wu Dalang is described as a short, ugly figure, but this image does not conform to the historical Wu Zhi.