A descendant of the early Tang official Duan Zhixuan (段志玄, Duàn Zhìxuán) (-642), and the son of Duan Wenchang (段文昌, Duàn Wénchāng), a high official under Tang Xuanzong, his family background enabled him to obtain office without taking the imperial exams.
[citation needed] As a poet, he was associated with Li Shangyin and Wen Tingyun.
Duan is best known outside of China for being the author of an early version of Cinderella, called Ye Xian.
In 853, the story first appeared in Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang, which was published shortly after he returned to Chang'an after his term of acting Governor of Jizhou (now known as Ji'an in Jiangsu).
It is believed that it was a folktale told by peasants before it was recorded on paper.