Emperor Xizong of Tang
Zhao Feng was probably born during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang in the late 870s or early 880s, as he would describe himself as either 49 or in his 50s in 934 shortly before his death, but the exact year is not known. It is known, however, that he was from You Prefecture (幽州, in modern Beijing). In his youth, he became a Confucian scholar. As he was later referred to as a "Jinshi" (), he probably also passed the imperial examinations during Tang.