Xu Gu came from Kuangfu township in Suzhou city; his family name was Zhu. He was a monk, and was associated with the Shanghai School of Painting, together with painters such as Ren Bonian and Wu Changshuo. He was an accomplished painter, especially in flowers, fruits, and squirrels, using brush, ink and colours in a vigorous and ingenious manner. Xu Gu died in 1896, and was buried at the foot of Shibi Mountain. Xu Gu's works and life story have been compiled by the Chinese painter Fu Hua (born 1928), now living in England.