Mao was styled Shunfu with an art alias of Lumen, a jinshi in the Jiajing 17th year of the Ming. As a wondrous writer and bibliophile, he was instrumental in literary creations and theories over literature history, esteemed as the father of Eight Great Men of Letters During the Tang (618–907) and Song. His back-to-back post spanned county magistracy of Qingyang and Dantu, zhushi (supervisor) at the Ministry of Rites, director of Ji Xun Si (the Merit Department) under the Ministry of Personnel, Ancha Fushi (vice surveillance commissioner) in Guangping of Fujian and more. Official position aside, his long-lasting feats lied in the leading status in Tang-Song School, a Ming-Dynasty literary sect, as well as the compilation of Copied Collection by Tang & Song Eight Great Men of Letters in 164 volumes. The anthology was a nod to the popular, profound poetry and prose, styled by the genius octuplets, from Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, Ouyang Xiu, Su Xun, Su Shi, Su Zhe, Wang Anshi, to Zeng Gong.

The creation made a hit while its creator was unsung, alongside his origins with Wuzhen. Until the Republic of China, a biography on Mao Kun secured an entry in Wuqing Town Annals, compiled by Lu Xuepu. Mao hailed from Gui’an (the present-day Huzhou), with Wuzhen then under its affiliation. The ins and outs of Wuzhen being affiliated can be cited from his article Primary & Definitive Subordination. For this connection, Mao was taken for granted as a native of Wuzhen by Lu.

As for collection, Mao was a virtuoso nationwide, with more books than his dozens-room library could stash, as per Huzhou Prefecture Annals by Zheng Yuanqing. His astounding assets were incorporated into Baihua Library Bibliography in 10 volumes on 9 branches, by his grandson Mao Yuanyi. The 9 branches follow the order, Confucian Classics, Historiography, Literature, Story-telling, Enlightenment, Military Science, Taxonomy, Mathematics, and Foreign Studies. Further, a Tenth was added, Heritage, 10 volumes in all. A glimpse at categories can reveal a focus on Military, Mathematics, Foreign Studies and Heritage, well beyond traditional. In this regard, the treasure trove was deep rooted in society, with head-turning contents different from that of the ordinary literati.