Cao Xiuxian (1708-1784), whose courtesy name was Hengting, also known as Zhitian and Bingzhi, was born in Xinjian County, Nanchang. Minister and writer of the Qing Dynasty.
In the first year of Qianlong's reign (1736), he became a Jinshi, selected common people, and was awarded the title of Editor of the Hanlin Academy. He served as editor and editor of the "Records of King Sejong", and was later promoted to the Imperial Academy for Jijiu, cabinet bachelor, and right minister of the three departments of Gong, Hu, and Li. In the thirty-sixth year of Qianlong's reign (1771), he was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Rites. He was appointed as the chief master of the upper study and served as the president of the "Sikuquanshu" library. Emperor Qianlong granted the special treatment of "horse riding in the Forbidden City".
Cao Xiuxian was an honest official and was known as "sincere, respectful, diligent and prudent". He enforced the law impartially and won the hearts of the people. He also used his salary many times to set up charity fields, set up volunteer schools and build water conservancy projects in his hometown. The villagers hung the plaque "Zhizong Yanze" bestowed by the emperor on the Cao family's ancestral hall to praise his virtues.
Xiuxian was knowledgeable and wrote prolifically. Every time there is a major national ceremony, he writes poems and essays, and is often gifted by Sable Wenqi. There are "Ci Shu Tang Manuscript", "Yi Qing Tang Si Liu", "Yi Guang Ji", "Shi Xing Ji", "Dishan First Draft", "Provincial Farming Poems", "Yan Pi Pa Xing" and so on. He was also good at calligraphy, and became his own family after learning from Fa Zhong and Wang. People at that time regarded his books as treasures.
Cao Xiu died in office first, and was given the posthumous title Wen Ke as a gift to the crown prince and tutor.
