Huang Zicheng got first place in the metropolitan examination in 1385, during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor.

He successively served as Junior Historiography Compiler (編修), Senior Historiography Compiler (修撰), Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices (太常寺卿), etc., and Reader-companion for the Heir Apparent (伴讀東宮).

After the Jianwen Emperor ascended the throne, he concurrently served as Hanlin Chancellor (翰林學士) and jointly proposed with Qi Tai to reduce the power of princes.

As a result, the Prince of Yan Zhu Di launched the Jingnan campaign in 1399, and in 1402, after Zhu Di seized the throne, he arrested and executed Huang Zicheng.

[1] Huang Zicheng had a son who changed his name to Tian Jing (田經).