What does it mean to return to the East in Tang poetry?

"Returning to the East" in Tang poetry is often related to the failure of the imperial examination or the poet's life experience of poverty. What it represents is not necessarily seclusion, but an intention to take root and regroup after failure.

For example, Bai Juyi's poem "Chen Zhou Xie Xiucai Lost Ma Dong's Return" mentioned that "the former residence was still used when returning, and the door curtain was used for examination", indicating that although the protagonist failed to make a trip, he still insisted on taking root in his former residence and starting over.

Another example is Wang Zhihuan's "In the Lusu", "Return to see the son of heaven, and the son of heaven will sit in the court." But it also points to a new beginning, not seclusion.

Therefore, it can be concluded that "returning to the east" mentioned in Tang poetry does not necessarily mean seclusion, but refers to the intention of re-rooting and regrouping after failure.