 Orphaned at an early age, he followed the Buddhist monk Zhiyin (智諲) and became a samanera when he was around 12 years old.The Former Shu was conquered by the Later Tang in 925, and in the following year general Meng Zhixiang arrived to assume governorship ("jiedushi") of Xichuan (西川).One day, Meng Zhixiang hosted many monks in the city to a grand feast at his "yamen", and Wang Zhaoyuan went with Zhiyin.