Xu Ai (; 1487–1517) was an important Chinese philosopher during the mid-late

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

. He was also a magistrate and writer.

Biography

Xu was born in Maoyan (馬堰/马堰), Yuyao, Shaoxing Fu (紹興府/绍兴府; current Yuyao,

Ningbo Ningbo (; Ningbonese: ''gnin² poq⁷'' , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), formerly romanized as Ningpo, is a major sub-provincial city in northeast Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. It comprises 6 urban districts, 2 sate ...

Zhejiang Province Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiangs ...

in 1487. His

courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theobald ...

was Yueren (曰仁), and artist's pseudonym was Hengshan (横山). In the third year of Zhengde Era ( 正德三年; 1508), Xu joined the

imperial examination The imperial examination (; lit. "subject recommendation") refers to a civil-service examination system in Imperial China, administered for the purpose of selecting candidates for the state bureaucracy. The concept of choosing bureaucrats by ...

and was qualified and matriculated as a governmental official. He was the mayor of Qizhou (祁州; current

Anguo Anguo (), nicknamed "Medicine Capital" (), is a county-level city under the administration of and south of Baoding, central Hebei province, China. It has a provincially protected Temple of the God of Medicine () established around 100. In pre ...

, Hebei Province). Later he was transferred to

Nanjing Nanjing (; , Mandarin pronunciation: ), alternately romanized as Nanking, is the capital of Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It is a sub-provincial city, a megacity, and the second largest city in the East China region. T ...

, the sub-capital of the Ming China. In Nanjing, he chronologically served in the Ministry of Military ( 兵部) as a ''Yuanwailang'' ( 員外郎/员外郎) and in Ministry of Construction ( 工部) as a ''Langzhong'' ( 郎中) there. In the 11th year of Zhengde Era (1516), Xu went back to hometown for mothering; and in 1517 died of illness at the age of 31.

Philosophy

Xu was one of the earliest student of the philosopher Wang Yangming. He was considered as a royal, important member and the second generation of the Yangming School of Mind (陽明心學/阳明心学). Wang Yangming proposed his thought of conscience and intuitive knowledge, but most people and

Confucian Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a Religious Confucianism, religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, ...

s during his time didn't accept it. Xu mainly contributed to the further expatiation and the consummation of Wang's philosophy in this domain, and also further developed Wang's school of philosophy. Xu recorded most of Wang's words (from both his daily living and teaching) and works, collected and recensing them, also printed and published these philosophical monographies. So Xu also played an important role in publicizing the philosophy in a popular style.

References

* Historic records: ** '' History of Ming'': Biography of Xu Ai ** ''The Record of Teaching and Practising'' (《傳習錄》/《传习录》): Dialogues between Xu Ai and Wang Yangming ** ''Academic Record of Ming Confucians'' (《明儒學案》/《明儒学案》; by

Huang Zongxi Huang Zongxi (; September 24, 1610 – August 12, 1695), courtesy name Taichong (), was a Chinese naturalist, political theorist, philosopher, and soldier during the latter part of the Ming dynasty into the early part of the Qing. Biography Huan ...

): Biography of Xu Ai {{DEFAULTSORT:Xu, Ai Ming dynasty philosophers 16th-century Chinese philosophers Chinese Confucianists Neo-Confucian scholars 1487 births 1517 deaths Writers from Ningbo Philosophers from Zhejiang Ming dynasty government officials Politicians from Ningbo People from Yuyao