Native of Suzhou, Xu was born in a rich family of textile manufacturer.

He passed the final stages of the imperial exams and received his jinshi (進士) degree in 1568 and worked in the Hanlin Academy for many years.

In 1584, he was appointed chief of Guozijian, the highest national central institution of the Empire.

Xu was one of the main contributors of the final edition of the Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty.

The folio contains vivid materials reflecting the ritual paraphernalia of the Ming court.