Xu Ai

Xu Ai (1487–1517) was a significant Chinese philosopher, magistrate, and writer during the mid-late Ming Dynasty. Born in Maoyan, Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, his courtesy name was Yueren and his artist's pseudonym was Hengshan. In 1508, Xu qualified as a governmental official through the imperial examination. He served as the magistrate of Qizhou in Hebei Province and later held positions in Nanjing, including Yuanwailang in the Ministry of Military and Langzhong in the Ministry of Construction. In 1516, Xu returned to his hometown and passed away the following year at the age of 31. Philosophically, Xu was one of the earliest and most important disciples of Wang Yangming, becoming a prominent figure in the Yangming School of Mind. He is credited with expatiating on and perfecting Wang's theories of conscience and intuitive knowledge, which were not widely accepted at the time. Xu also played a vital role in publicizing Wang's philosophy by meticulously collecting, compiling, printing, and publishing Wang's dialogues and writings, thus contributing significantly to the dissemination of his thought in a popular and accessible manner.