Li Zhuowu was a Ming dynasty thinker and man of letters known for daring to question tradition and for the bluntness of his views. Public information about his courtesy names, native place, and the details of his life is limited, so this note makes no conjectures on those points. The library holds one work by him, Xu Fenshu (A Sequel to the Book to Be Burned). The book continues the line of writing found in Fenshu and consists mainly of short essays, letters, and miscellaneous discussions. Its topics touch on reading, conduct in life, human nature, and social customs. The style is candid and sharp, often starting from everyday observations and pointing directly at the flaws in commonly accepted habits, and it carries a strong personal judgment and speculative character. Li Zhuowu writes without ornament, using short sentences and rhetorical questions, so that reading him feels like facing him in debate. His thought and writing have drawn repeated attention in later ages: some admire his courage in seeking truth, while others criticize his arguments as extreme. Xu Fenshu is therefore not only an entry point for understanding his views but also a source for observing the intellectual atmosphere of the late Ming.
