It is not known when Ouyang Tong was born, but it is known that his family hailed from Tan Prefecture (roughly modern Changsha, Hunan).
His mother Lady Xu taught him the calligraphic techniques of Ouyang Xun and gave him money when he wrote well.
In 691, he was made minister of rites (司禮卿, Siling Qing) and acting Nayan (納言), the head of the examination bureau of government (鳳閣, Fengge) and a post considered one for a chancellor.
Ouyang's senior colleague Cen Changqian strenuously opposed and wanted that Wang's group of petitioners be disbanded.
As a result, Wu Zetian had him, Cen, and another chancellor Ge Fuyuan arrested and interrogated by her secret police official Lai Junchen.