Born in Beijing, with ancestral roots in Jiangsu Province, China. In 1947, he enrolled in the composition department of Nanjing Conservatory, later transferring to the Central Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition under Jiang Dingxian. After graduating in 1952, he taught at the Central Conservatory of Music. In 1953, he was dispatched to study at the Moscow Conservatory as one of the first government-sponsored students. After returning to China in 1958, he successively served as Professor of Composition, Vice President, and President at the Central Conservatory of Music.

He co-composed ballet music such as The Red Detachment of Women and The Mermaid with Du Mingxin.