Li Hong
It is not known when Xing Wenwei was born, but it was known that his family was from Chu Prefecture (滁州, roughly modern Chuzhou, Anhui), and that he, along with two other men from nearby prefectures, Gao Zigong () and Pei Huaigui (), were known for their knowledge throughout the region. About 672, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, Xing was serving as a secretary in charge of food supplies for the palace of Emperor Gaozong's crown prince Li Hong. At that time, Li Hong rarely met with his staff members, and Xing reduced the food supplies to Li Hong and submitted petitions to him, arguing that it was inappropriate for him not to meet staff members. Li Hong wrote a humble letter back to Xing, explaining that he did not meet with staff members because he was often ill and because he was often attending to Emperor Gaozong, but thanking Xing for his suggestions. Soon thereafter, Emperor Gaozong needed an imperial chronicler, and he commented, "Xing Wenwei, while serving my son, was able to use the reduction of food to get my son to correct his ways; this shows that he is an upright man." He promoted Xing to the imperial chronicler post.