Background
Yuan Zi was born in 739, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His family was from Cai Prefecture (蔡州, in modern Zhumadian, Henan). It traced its ancestry from a clan of Han Dynasty officials, including Yuan An (who, however, was not a direct ancestor), with direct descendance through a line of officials of Han, Cao Wei, Jin Dynasty (265-420), Liu Song, Liang Dynasty, Northern Zhou, Sui Dynasty, and Tang Dynasty. His grandfather Yuan Zhixuan (袁知玄) served as a prefectural official, while his father Yuan Chu (袁廚) served as a county magistrate.
Yuan Zi was said to be studious in his youth, and as his brother-in-law Yuan Jie (元結, note different surname) was already a prefectural prefect who had a good reputation, he lived with Yuan Jie while he studied. He interpreted the ancient works well, and Yuan Jie respected him. He later lived as a guest in the region of Jing Prefecture (荊州, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei) and Ying Prefecture (郢州, in modern Wuhan, Hubei) and taught students.
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