Xuwen County Gazetteer: Biography of Tang Xianzu

Tang Xianzu, courtesy name Yiren, was a native of Linchuan. He entered official service as a chief clerk in the Ministry of Rites after passing the imperial examination. For his outspoken remonstrances, he was demoted to the post of additional registrar at Xuwen. Endowed with exceptional talent and erudition, he was well-versed in both literature and history. He took many scholars under his patronage, and numerous students from all parts of the realm flocked to study with him. He established a meeting hall called “Guisheng Academy,” which he himself annotated with explanatory notes; Liu Duiyang, the Imperial Censor, also composed a preface for it. Later, he was transferred to serve as magistrate of Suichang.