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The Chinese artist T’ang Yin (1470-1523) is renowned for his decorative artistic style, one which was highly popular with his contemporaries. How did Yin almost end up in a very different career however?

Answer: He only became an artist after his failure to achieve a career in government. Despite passing the State’s exam in Beijing, considered a ticket to a lucrative and powerful government career, he was accused of cheating and forced to return home.

Source: The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia by David Crystal

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