Research on XU Fang's Career History in Government Service

XU Fang, a literary figure of the Ming Dynasty, continued his literary pursuits during the early Qing Dynasty. XU had a brief yet illustrious official career. His résumé is as follows. During the twelfth year of the Reign of Chongzhen (1639), he achieved the second place in the local examination. In 1640, he ranked sixtieth in the provincial examination and fiftieth in the palace examination. In 1641, he served as the prefect of Zezhou. In the second year of the Reign of Shunzhi (1645), XU held a position as an official in the Verification and Appointment Office for Selection Office of the Honest Officials of the reign of Longwu of the Southern Ming Dynasty. Later on, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Director of the Personnel Department in Selection Office of the Honest Officials. Subsequently, he was demoted to the position of Hanlin Compiler of Imperial Academy. XU retired due to illness. In 1650, he declined the position of Left Chamber of Spring Purification in the Imperial Academy, which was recommended by MO Keqi. Afterward, he never pursued an official career again.