Biography
He was born in Chang'an (modern Xi'an) into an elite family whose fortunes were declining. He passed the jinshi ("Presented Scholar") level of the imperial civil service examination in 827 at the age of 25, and went on to hold many official positions in various locales through the years. However, he never achieved a high rank, perhaps due to enemies made in a factional dispute in 835. He was appointed to the office of Secretariat Drafter shortly before his death.
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