Pu Zuo was a great-grandson of the Daoguang Emperor. His father, Zaiying, and his brothers Pu Xuezai, Pu Yizai, and Pu Songchuang were all renowned calligraphers and painters. From a young age, Pu Zuo had a deep passion for painting and calligraphy. He joined the Songfeng Painting Society, founded by his brother Pu Xuezai. The society's members included Pu Xinyu, Pu Xuezai, Pu Yizai, Pu Songchuang, Qi Jingxi, Qi Gong, Ye Yangxi, and Guan Songfang—many of whom had ties to the Qing imperial court. They earned the group the title "The Nine Friends of Songfeng." Pu Zuo, along with his cousin Pu Xinyu, once held a fan painting exhibition in Tianjin, and his works primarily featured flowers and animals.