Xu Guo (1527–1596) was a Ming-dynasty politician. His courtesy name was Weizhen; his studio name was Yingyang, written as 潁陽, 穎陽, and 頴陽 in different Chinese characters; he was also known by the former name Xu Wang. His birth-order designation was San (“Third”), and his posthumous title was Wenmu. He was from She County and had visited Korea.
Life and career
He was a shengyuan and a provincial recommended licentiate; in the forty-fourth year of the Jiajing era (1565), he earned the jinshi degree, ranking 108th in the third class.
From 1565 to 1567 he served as a shujishi, and from the first year of Longqing he was a Hanlin Academy jiantao.
In the fourth year of the Wanli era (1576), he served as an examiner for the Shuntian provincial examination; in the sixth year he became Nanjing jijiu.
In the eighth year of Wanli he became a zhanshi of the Zhanshi Office and took charge of its affairs; in the eleventh year (1583) he served as an examiner for the metropolitan examination, and in the twelfth year as a fushi.
His other offices included Youchunfang Youzanshan, right and left vice ministers of Rites, Minister of Rites, Minister of Personnel, Taizi Shaofu, Taizi Taibao, Taizi Taifu, Taizi Taishi, and Grand Academicians of Jianji Hall and Dongge Hall.
Family and associations
His great-grandfather was Xu Jian, his grandfather Xu Ruxian, his father Xu Fu, and his mother was Lady Wang.
His elder brother was Xu Yitian; his younger brothers were Xu Pang, Xu Yuan, Xu Chong, Xu Pan, and Xu Huai; his wife was Lady Wang.
His sons included Xu Ligong, Xu Liyan, Xu Lide, and Xu Lili, with Xu Lide the eldest and Xu Lili the youngest; his son-in-law was Wu Wancheng, and his nephew was Xu Shigu.
His grandsons included Sun Zhichai, Sun Zhining, Xu Zhiren, Xu Zhiwen, Xu Zhigu, Xu Zhiji, and Xu Zhigao; the name Zhichai occurs with both the surnames Sun and Xu.
Xu Guo was a friend of Bi Maokang; Wang Jiaping wrote his tomb inscription, while Xu Guo wrote tomb inscriptions for Li Chunfang, Chen Yiqin, Zhang Siwei, Wang Chonggu, Wang Haowen, Yu Youding, Shao Shu, Xia Bangmo, Sun Ao, and Chen Yidian.
He wrote a biography for Xu Jinghong, sacrificial texts for Hu Zongxian, Huang Yingkun, and Xu Xianqing, biographies for Wang Tongbao and Huang Yingkun, a tomb inscription for Chen Yidian, and a biography for Li Tingji.
His literary exchanges included farewell pieces for Chen Yiqin, Zha Duo, Zhou Ziyi, Xu Yuantai, You Yingqian, and Zhong Jiying, and he shared an examination cohort with Li Weizhen.
He received a reply from Wang Jiaping and letters from Fang Yang, Wang Daokun, Jiang Bao, Dai Xun, and He Sanwei.
He presented poetry and prose to Chen Yiqin and Feng Rubi; received poetry and prose from Zhang Wei and Li Weizhen; also received poetry, prose, and a book from Wang Daokun; and wrote an inscription for the shrine to Lu Shude.
Writings
A six-juan collection bears the title *Xu Wenmu gong ji*.
References
- CBDB Xu Guo (124245)
- Wikidata Xu Guo (Q15909579)