Born in Ju County,
Beihai Commandery (east of present-day
Lechang,
Shandong), Xu Gan developed a reputation for good memory and diligent studies as a youth. Around 189, Xu Gan left his residence in
Linzi and went into hiding on the
Jiaodong peninsula. However, his work's introduction, written from the viewpoint of a reverent disciple, suggests his exile more self-imposed for the sake of Confucianist study. He seems to have been familiar with the "Legalists", but is not that unusual for his time and advocated that reward and punishment should be consistent rather than extreme, fitting alongside his other "Balanced Discourses." It has been suggested that his writing were directed at
Cao Cao. After participating in Cao Cao's campaigns, the
Records of the Three Kingdoms state that he was appointed magistrate of
Shanghai, but did not serve. He did serve as Minister of Works, from 197-208, and literary advisor until 211. == Literature ==