Fualso known asPu, styledRuyuan, with the sobriquetsDonggaoandSimin, Sihe. He was from Qimen (now She County, Anhui), born into a scholarly family where both his father and grandfather were Confucian scholars. In his early years, he pursued the imperial examinations, but due to overstudying and poor health, he turned to medicine, studying under the local physicianWang Huan. Huanwas deeply versed inNeijingand wrote a book titledMedical Doubtsas a critique of Wang Bing's annotations.

XuauthoredGujin Yitong Daquanin 100 volumes, andMedical Gateway(also known asYixue Rumen Essentials in Six BooksorYixue Rumen Shortcut in Six Books) in 6 volumes. Gujin Yitong Daquanincludes sections such asEssentials of Neijing, Gynecological Mirror, Broad Reproduction, Pediatrics Collection, andSmallpox Secrets

, which were also published separately.

Xuresided in the capital, serving in theImperial Medical Bureau, prioritizing saving lives in his practice, and was a physician concerned with medical ethics.

Xuwas the initiator and founder of the "Yititang Zharen Medical Society," a civil medical academic group in our country, playing a significant role in promoting medical development and facilitating academic exchanges.