Also known as Qiyuanzi, he was born around the first year of the Jingyun era of the Tang Dynasty (710) and died in the twentieth year of the Zhenyuan era (805). His place of origin is unknown. During the Baoying era (762-763), he served as the Taipu Ling (an official title), hence he was referred to as Wang Taipu.

In his youth, Wang was deeply devoted to the study of the Yi Jing and Daoist philosophy, focusing on life preservation and delving into medical studies, with a particular fondness for Huangdi Neijing. He once "received the secret manuscripts of the late master Zhang Gong at the study hall of Mr. Guo." From the ninth year of the Tianbao era (750) to the first year of the Baoying era (762), he spent twelve years annotating the Suwen, completing 24 volumes comprising 81 chapters. Wang made significant contributions to the theory of the Five Movements and Six Climates, with his theoretical insights recorded in the annotations of the seven major treatises he added, which became the foundation for later theories on the Five Movements and Six Climates. He also expanded on the theory of pattern identification and treatment, such as advocating for "nourishing the source of fire to eliminate the nebula of yin" in treating the deficiency of primordial yang, and proposing "strengthening the master of water to control the brilliance of yang" in treating the exhaustion of true yin, which remain famous clinical principles to this day.

Wang also authored another book, Xuanzhu, which was lost by the Song Dynasty. Other works attributed to him include Xuanzhu Miyu in ten volumes, Zhaoming Yinzhi in three volumes, Tianyuan Yuce in thirty volumes, and Yuanhe Jiyong Jing in one volume, all of which are believed to be later works falsely attributed to him.