Yang Ji, the future Mitrophan, was born, probably in Beijing, on January 17, 1856 into a family of Chinese Orthodox associated with Russian Orthodox Mission in China. His father died while he was very young, and he was raised by his mother Marina, who was a teacher at a school for girls, and his grandmother Ekaterina. Yang Ji grew to be a humble person who was cautious and quiet. He was peaceful in demeanor and was impassioned even when faced with great insults.