Ouyang Zhan's family had resided for several generations in the southeast (Jinjiang, Fujian in China), then, Ouyang Zhan completed the Jinshi degree in 792, in the year that came to know as the list of tigers and dragons.
His family had resided for several generations in the southeast and included magistrates and assistants in Quanzhou who came to service without examination. Ouyang Zhan completed the jinshi degree in 792, alongside Han Yu and many other notable scholars in the year that came to known as the "list of tigers and dragons" (). Ouyang was born in Panhu village (), Chidian (), Jinjiang, Fujian. Fujian People's Republic of China 
