生平

徐溥生於宣德三年（1428年），自幼天資聰穎，每日將黃豆、黑豆分裝兩瓶以自省。景泰五年（1454年），登一甲第二名進士（榜眼），授翰林院編修。憲宗時，遷太常卿兼翰林院學士。成化十五年（1479年）拜禮部左侍郎，又改吏部左侍郎。孝宗時，晉升文淵閣大學士，參預機務。旋進禮部尚書、武英殿大學士。

弘治五年，劉吉罷免，徐溥為內閣首輔，屢加少傅、太子太傅。徐溥為政鎮以安靜，務守成法，與其他內閣成員劉健、李東陽、謝遷等協力輔政。當時，欽天監革職監正李華為昌國公張巒擇葬地，中旨復官。徐溥等稱不宜賞賜內臣。弘治八年，太皇太后召崇王來朝，溥等與尚書倪嶽諫勸阻事，明孝宗批准。之後亦上疏勸阻進軍安南。同年，晉升為文華殿大學士。之後因年七十歲，請求退休，不予批准。後詔風雨寒暑免朝參。弘治十一年，皇太子出閤，加少師兼太子太師，進華蓋殿大學士。以目疾乞歸。帝眷留，久之才批准，恩賚有加。弘治十二年（1499年）卒，謚文靖，贈太師。

徐溥天性凝重有度，在內閣十二年，從容輔導。他人有過錯，均為之掩覆，並屢次調解大獄及逮系言官。明孝宗多採納其言。人稱「四朝大學士」。曾擁有《清明上河圖》。

Biography

Xu Pu was a scholar in the palace, and successfully graduated after the highest Imperial examination as a jinshi (進士), or "chosen scholar", in 1454 AD.

He entered the Grand Secretariat as a Minister in 1487 AD. He had a quiet, conservative style, which aimed at compromise and friendly relations with his colleagues. His predecessor was Liu Ji. Xu Pu wanted the Emperor to rein in the power of Li Guang and the Daoists, but failed with his protests. He was received in audience only once during his 12 years as Minister.

However, in 1497 AD Xu was entrusted with the preparation of the Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty, which were published after his death in 1509 AD.

He was known to be lenient to his subordinates and in private life he was distinguished for filial piety and charity. When he died in 1499 AD Xu left 800 mu of tax-free land to the poor of his clan and was canonised as Wen Jing (文靖).