Wang Xianzhi
It is not known when Shang Rang was born. He had at least one older brother, Shang Junzhang (尚君長), who, along with Wang Xianzhi, rose in rebellion against Tang Dynasty in 874 at Changyuan (長垣, in modern Xinxiang, Henan). Shang Rang probably followed his brother in this rebellion, and he, either at that time or subsequently, became a follower of Wang's as well.