保定陸軍軍官学校
He Jian was born into a family of farming background in Liling County, Hunan, on April 10, 1887. In 1903 he attended Zhuzici School () and then transferred to Liling County Lujiang Middle School (). In 1906 he enrolled at Chonggu School () and three years later he studied at Hunan Public Law School (). After the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, he was educated in Wuchang Army High School. After graduating from Baoding Military Academy in 1916 he was assigned to the 1st Brigade of 1st Division of Hunan Ground Force.