Jiang was born Wu Yunsen (吴云森; 吳雲森; Wú Yúnsēn) in Shanghai in July 1929, with his ancestral home in Xi County, Anhui.
In 1946, Jiang served as the chief editor of Chenxing (晨星) and started to publish works.
After the founding of the Communist State, Jiang was appointed a Standing Committee member of the Jiangxi Literature Association.
After the Cultural Revolution, Jiang founded Cuncao (寸草) and he served as the chief editor.
Jiang was transferred to Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 1980 and he joined the China Writers Association in 1983.