Biography

Xu was born in Maoyan (馬堰/马堰), Yuyao, Shaoxing Fu (紹興府/绍兴府; current Yuyao, Ningbo), Zhejiang Province in 1487. His courtesy name 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 and was qualified and matriculated as a governmental official. He was the mayor of Qizhou (祁州; current Anguo, Hebei Province). Later he was transferred to Nanjing, 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 Confucians 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.

生平

徐愛治《禮記》，由縣學附學生中式丁卯科浙江鄉試第二十九名舉人，年二十二歲聯捷中式正德三年（1508年）戊辰科會試第一百八十六名，第二甲第一百十三名進士。

出仕後，徐愛曾任祁州知州，南京兵部員外郎，南京工部郎中等職務。

正德十一年（1517年），回鄉省親，不料於次年5月17日在家鄉去世，終年三十一歲，王守仁為之慟哭。一日，王守仁授業後，感嘆到「安得起曰仁九泉聞斯言乎」，于是率門人弟子到其墓所，酹酒以告。

哲學

王守仁提出「良知」之說，當時世人「多未信」。徐愛主要的哲學工作是闡釋並進一步發展了良知之說，「疏通辨析，暢其指要」。

王守仁曾評價：「徐生之溫恭，蔡生之沉潛，朱生之明敏，皆我所不逮。」（《明史·儒林列傳》）

著作

• 《傳習錄》、《橫山集》二卷

家族

曾祖徐廷玉。祖徐文絅。父徐璽，省祭官。母孫氏。具慶下，弟受、孚、爵、爰、豸。

參考

• 《明史·徐愛傳》

• 《傳習錄》中王守仁和徐愛的對話記錄

• 《明儒學案·浙中王門學案一》中徐愛生平思想介紹