 Cui Dunli's grandfather Cui Zhongfang (崔仲方) served as the minister of ceremonies during Sui Dynasty.It was said that Cui studied biographies and had sought to keep himself faithful and righteous.During the reign of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu, Cui Dunli served as a mid-low-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, "Zhongshu Sheng").