His family was originally from Yun Prefecture (鄆州, in modern Tai'an, Shandong)[2] and originally claimed ancestry from Ji Gao (姬高), a son of King Wen of Zhou, who was created the Lord of Bi, although his traceable ancestry only went back to his fifth-generation ancestor, Bi Jing (畢憬), who served as a prefectural prefect during Tang dynasty.
[7] In 845, Du was therefore sent out of Chang'an to serve as the military governor of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan).
Li, hearing this, was displeased, and sent Bi out of the capital to serve as the prefect of Ci Prefecture (磁州, in modern Handan, Hebei).
[2] He was then recalled to Chang'an to serve as Jiabu Yuanwailang (駕部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu) in charge of imperial messengers' horses and wagons, and then as Cangbu Langzhong (倉部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of census in charge of imperial money and food storages.
Emperor Xuānzong was impressed, compared him to the prominent Zhao generals Lian Po and Li Mu, and asked him whether he would be willing to accept the Binning assignment.
[11] Thereafter, Bi Xian was transferred to Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), and yet later recalled to Chang'an to serve as the minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu) as well as the director of finances.
[7] In 860, Emperor Yizong made him the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.
[12] He was thereafter made the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), and died two months later, in early 864.