Xu Xuan 徐宣

Xu Xuan 徐宣 (d. 236), courtesy name Baojian 寶堅, was a high official of the early Wei period 曹魏 (220-265).

He hailed from Haixi 海西 in the commandery of Guangling 廣陵 (today's Guanxian 灌縣, Jiangsu) and was by the warlord Cao Cao 曹操 made governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Qijun 齊郡. Somewhat later Cao took him into his inner administration and made him palace supervisor (menxia du 門下督). When Cao campaigned against Ma Chao 馬超 in the west, Xu Xuan was entrusted with the protection of Cao Cao's residential capital. Cao Cao's death posed a security problem for his young Wei dynasty. Xu Xuan gave advice to the new king of Wei, Cao Pi 曹丕, not to entrust the protection of the residence to people from the home town of the Caos, Qiao 譙.

Cao Pi, soon adopting the title of emperor (known as Emperor Wen 魏文帝, r. 220-226), rewarded him with the post of palace aide to the Censor-in-chief (yushi zhongcheng 御史中丞) and gave him the title of Marquis within the Passes (guanneihou 關內侯). Xu Xuan was then made metropolitan commandant (sili xiaowei 司隸校尉), cavalier attendant-in-ordinary (sanji changshi 散騎常侍) and then chief steward for writing (shangshu 尚書).

Emperor Ming 魏明帝 (r. 226－239 CE) awarded to Xu the title of Neighbourhood Marquis of Jinyang 津陽亭侯 and appointed him left chief administrator (zuo puye 左僕射), then attendant serving as Grand Master for Splending Happiness (shizhong guanglu dafu 侍中光祿大夫). Whenever Emperor Ming travelled to Xuchang 許昌, the old residence of the Wei dynasty, Xu Xuan was temporary regent in the capital Luoyang 洛陽. The posthumous title of this highly trusted minister was Marquis Zhen 貞侯.