She was the niece of the progressive reformer Fang Jiashi, a follower of Weng Tonghe, and sister of the revolutionaries Fang Shengdong and Fang Shengtao. In 1901–1911, she studied in Japan, and became involved with the revolutionary republican movements among the Chinese students there. She became a member of the Tonghmenghui in 1905, and head of its assassination section in 1907. In 1908, she participated in a planned assassination of Prince regent Zai Feng. She was one of the ideologists who planned the Guangzhou Uprising 27 April 1911.