[2] Liu was born in Nan'an, Quanzhou, Fujian, in what was then the Republic of China during the Second World War.

Siding with the Communists, Liu took particular interest in Marxist literature, but put his own morals and messages behind the pieces, rather than those given by the party.

[2][3] Liu Zaifu graduated from Xiamen University in 1963 with a degree in Chinese literature.

[2] During the Cultural Revolution, Liu was placed under house arrest for his personal views of Marxist belief and doctrine not matching those of the party.

[5] Towards the end of the Cultural Revolution, Liu traveled abroad, going to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States among other places, which would end up influencing his works, along with spreading his literature abroad outside of China.