Zhou Rudi was born in the 29th year of Jiajing (1550). He lost his father in his early years and his mother became a martyr. His uncle and aunt scrimped and saved for their education. In the seventeenth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1589), he was admitted to the Jinshi examination, was appraised by Jishi Shu, and was promoted to imperial academy to offer wine. During his tenure, he was strict with himself, courteous to corporal, and paid special attention to cultivating talents, which was known as "the best in the world". His articles were also quite famous at that time. Shandong Tongzhi said that "the articles are famous all over the world". There is a book handed down from ancient times called Qing Li Guan Ji.

After he returned to China in his later years, he refused to associate with the officialdom, but he cared about the sufferings of the people, often commented on the advantages and disadvantages of the places, and wrote to the emperor asking for reducing the extra taxes of the people.