He was the younger brother of Duan Zhengming, and the first ruler of the Later Dali Kingdom.
In 1094, Duan Zhengming was forced by Gao Shengtai to abdicate and become a monk.
However, after two years of reign, Gao Shengtai died in 1096 and made a will to return the throne to the Duan family.
Duan Zhengchun abdicated and became a monk in 1108.
Duan Zhengchun is fictionalised as one of the key supporting characters in the wuxia novel [zh] Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils by Louis Cha.