Lin Zexu

出自全球本体聚合平台

公开 可引用 更新于 2026-09-13

Life

In 1811, he passed the jinshi examination, ranking fourth in the second class; he was selected as a shujishi and appointed a Hanlin compiler[6]. His appointments included the Hangjiahu circuit intendant, provincial examination examiner, chief provincial examiner, circuit censor, and metropolitan patrol censor[7]. During the Daoguang era, he served as the Shaanxi surveillance commissioner, Henan financial commissioner, Shaanxi governor, Jiangsu surveillance commissioner, Eastern River governor-general, Jiangsu governor, and Huguang governor-general; he reached the first rank and was twice appointed imperial commissioner[8]. At each posting, he investigated local conditions and understood the advantages and shortcomings of river works, seawalls, and water conservancy[9].

In the eighteenth year of the Daoguang reign, he enforced an anti-opium policy in Huguang and submitted a memorial on prohibition; the following year, as imperial commissioner in Guangdong, he ordered foreign merchants to surrender opium and publicly destroyed more than 2.37 million jin at Humen[10]. The Humen destruction became the trigger for the outbreak of the First Opium War between the Qing Empire and the British Empire[11]. While enforcing the ban, he collected and translated foreign materials, compiled 《四洲志》, and strengthened the defenses; he remained open to Western culture, technology, and trade, advocating the adoption of what was useful in the West[12]. After his appointment as governor-general of Liangguang, he was dismissed when the British fleet advanced northward to compel negotiations and was exiled to Ili; in Xinjiang, he established water-conservancy and tuntian projects, with notable results[13].

In the winter of the twenty-fifth Daoguang year, he was recalled to the central government and subsequently served as acting governor-general of Shaan-Gan, governor of Shaanxi, and governor-general of Yunnan-Guizhou; in the twenty-ninth year, illness led him to resign and return home[14]. After the accession of the Wenzong Emperor, he was recalled as imperial commissioner to suppress the Taiping forces in Guangxi, but died of illness at Chaozhou in Guangdong[15]. He was later granted the rank of Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent, posthumously awarded the rank of Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and given the posthumous name Wenzhong[16].

Family and associates

His grandfather was Lin Wanxuan, his maternal grandfather Chen Shian, and his paternal uncle Lin Wenzao; his cousins included Lin Chunsan and Lin Fengji[17]. His wife was Zheng; his daughter was Lin Puqing (1821–1873), and he had a second son, Lin Congyi, a third son, Lin Gongshu, and a nephew, Lin Longyan[18]. His friends included Borjigit Bao Heng, Guo Shangxian, and Wang Yunxiang; Yang Xiquan was a fellow degree-holder, and Tao Shu a colleague[19]. Feng Guifen was listed both as his student and as his disciple[20].

Works and thought

His works include 《林文忠公政書》, 《荷戈紀程》, 《信及錄》, and 《雲左山房詩文鈔》[21]; other titles include 《詩餘》, 《俄羅斯國紀要》, 《四洲志》, 《林文忠公家書》, 《林文忠公禁煙奏稿》, 《滇軺紀程》, 《畿輔水利議》, 《道光廣南府志》, 《雲左山房文鈔》, and 《雲左山房詩鈔》[22]. His poetry included two seven-character quatrains under the title 《題朱久香學使〈花間補讀圖〉》, and his ci poems are preserved separately[23].

Alongside his call for a strict prohibition on imported foreign opium, Lin Zexu proposed in 1833 that opium be cultivated domestically to counter imported opium[24]. He had at least a limited command of English and Portuguese and worked to translate Western newspapers and books[25]. Wei Yuan later compiled Lin Zexu's and his aides' translated documents as 《海國圖志》, a work that influenced the Self-Strengthening Movement of the late Qing and Japan's Meiji Restoration[26].

TimelineCBDB

  1. 1816 鄉試考官
  2. 1819 同考官
  3. 1819 鄉試考官

Office recordsCBDB

OfficeFromToEraPosting
鄉試考官1816Era unknown江西省
同考官1819Era unknown
鄉試考官1819Era unknown雲南
Year unknown9
OfficeEraPosting
布政使道光河南省
按察使道光陝西省
編修Era unknownUnknown
總督Era unknownUnknown
巡城御史嘉慶Unknown
巡撫道光陝西省
道員Era unknown杭嘉湖道
道監察御史嘉慶江南道
鄉試正考官嘉慶雲南

FamilyCBDB

RelationNameLife
祖父林萬選–
外祖父陳時庵–
從父;伯叔父林文藻–
從兄弟;堂兄弟林春三–
從兄弟;堂兄弟林逢吉–
妻子鄭氏(林則徐妻)–
女兒林普晴1821–1873
從子;姪子林龍言–
次子林聰彝–
三子林拱樞–
孫林岐鐃–
孫林洄淑–
孫林鈞澤–
孫林毓良–
孫林煒琨–
孫林壽鼎–
孫林慶祺–
孫林燕愉–
孫林蘊漣–
曾孫; 重孫林佩綸–
曾孫; 重孫林紱楨–
曾孫; 重孫林翊–
曾孫; 重孫林煥霄–
曾孫; 重孫林萱籌–
曾孫; 重孫林璧如–
伯;伯父林孟典–
伯;伯父林孟昂–

AliasesCBDB

  • 元撫 字
  • 少穆 字
  • 文忠 諡號
  • 石麟 字
  • 竢村老人 未詳
  • 竢村退叟 未詳
  • 雲左山房 未詳

StatusCBDB

  • 書法家

AssociationsCBDB

PersonRelationYears
博爾濟吉特保恆友–
郭尚先友–
王韻香友–
楊希銓同年友–
潘世恩被潘世恩推薦-9999–
蔣攸銛被蔣攸銛推薦–
王廣蔭被王廣蔭推薦1851–
馮桂芬學生為馮桂芬–
馮桂芬弟子為馮桂芬–
王瑬讚揚王瑬之學-9999–
陶澍同僚–
陸損之拜訪-9999–
余保純下屬為余保純1840–
吳思樹下屬為吳思樹-9999–
言啟芳下屬為言啟芳-9999–
周啟運稱道周啟運之政績–

ExaminationsCBDB

RecordRank
科舉: 進士(籠統)二甲四名
學校: 生員(庠生)

WorksCBDB

TitleRoleYearEra
詩餘(林則徐):一卷
俄羅斯國紀要:一卷
信及錄
四洲志
林文忠公家書
林文忠公政書:三卷
林文忠公禁煙奏稿
滇軺紀程:一卷
畿輔水利議:一卷
荷戈紀程:一卷
道光廣南府志:四卷
雲左山房文鈔
雲左山房詩鈔:八卷

Citations

  1. [1] Name and dates The evidence gives Lin Zexu's name and the years 1785–1850 within the Qing period.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)These values confirm the English name, birth year, death year, and Qing affiliation.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The profile and biographical passages confirm the person's name, dates, and Qing identity.
    • WikidataLin Tse-hsu (Q184999)The English label and descriptions confirm the name and the 1785–1850 lifespan.
  2. [2] Statesman, thinker, and poet Lin Zexu is identified as a Qing statesman, thinker, and poet.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biographical passages identify him as a Qing political figure, thinker, and poet.
    • WikidataLin Tse-hsu (Q184999)The descriptions identify him as a late-Qing politician, thinker, poet, and scholar.
  3. [3] Courtesy names His courtesy names were Yuanfu and Shaomu.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The alternative-name values and their type identify Yuanfu and Shaomu as courtesy names.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biographical passages give Yuanfu and Shaomu as his courtesy names.
    • WikidataLin Tse-hsu (Q184999)The English alias values include Shaomu and Yuanfu.
  4. [4] Shilin and late sobriquets Shilin has conflicting classifications as a courtesy name and a sobriquet; Sicunlaoren and Sicuntuisou are late sobriquets.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The alternative-name values classify Shilin as a courtesy name and list the two late sobriquets.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biographical passages use differing classifications for Shilin and list the late sobriquets.
    • WikidataLin Tse-hsu (Q184999)The English alias values include Shilin, Sicunlaoren, and Sicuntuisou.
  5. [5] Hometown He was from Houguan, now in Gulou District, Fuzhou.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The address values identify Houguan as his basic native-place address.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The profile and biographical passages identify Houguan and present-day Gulou District in Fuzhou.
  6. [6] Examination and first appointment In 1811 he passed the jinshi examination, ranked fourth in the second class, became a shujishi, and was appointed a Hanlin compiler.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The examination entry gives the jinshi degree and second-class fourth rank, while the office entry gives compiler.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biographical passages confirm the 1811 jinshi degree, shujishi selection, and Hanlin appointment.
  7. [7] Early offices His early offices included the Hangjiahu circuit intendant, examination posts, and two censorial posts.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The office values list the Hangjiahu post, examination posts, and censorial appointments.
  8. [8] Daoguang career During the Daoguang era he held the listed provincial and governor-general posts, reached the first rank, and was twice appointed imperial commissioner.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The office values confirm the governor-general, surveillance commissioner, financial commissioner, and governor posts.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biographical passages list the major appointments and confirm first-rank status and two imperial commissions.
  9. [9] Administrative work He investigated local conditions and understood river works, seawalls, and water conservancy.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biography describes his close study of local conditions, river works, seawalls, and water conservancy.
  10. [10] Anti-opium campaign In the eighteenth Daoguang year he enforced prohibition in Huguang; the next year he acted as imperial commissioner in Guangdong and destroyed over 2.37 million jin of opium at Humen.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biographical passages confirm the Huguang prohibition, Guangdong commission, surrender order, and quantity destroyed at Humen.
  11. [11] First Opium War The Humen destruction is presented as the trigger for the First Opium War between the Qing and British empires.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biographical passage directly connects the Humen destruction with the outbreak of the First Opium War.
  12. [12] Foreign knowledge and Western outlook He collected and translated foreign materials into 《四洲志》, strengthened defenses, and advocated adopting useful Western knowledge.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The passages confirm the compilation of 《四洲志》, defense measures, and his open approach to Western culture, technology, and trade.
  13. [13] Dismissal and Ili exile After becoming governor-general of Liangguang, he was dismissed and exiled to Ili when the British fleet advanced northward to compel negotiations; he then undertook water conservancy and tuntian in Xinjiang with notable results.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The passages describe his Liangguang appointment, dismissal, Ili exile, and successful Xinjiang projects.
  14. [14] Later career He was transferred in the winter of the twenty-fifth Daoguang year, held the Shaan-Gan, Shaanxi, and Yunnan-Guizhou posts, and resigned through illness in the twenty-ninth year.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The passages confirm the winter transfer, subsequent appointments, and illness-related return home.
  15. [15] Death After the Wenzong Emperor's accession he returned as imperial commissioner, went to Guangxi against the Taiping forces, and died at Chaozhou.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biography confirms the later imperial commission, Guangxi campaign, and death at Chaozhou.
  16. [16] Posthumous honors He received the rank of Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent, was posthumously awarded Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and was given the name Wenzhong.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The alternative-name values identify Wenzhong as a posthumous name.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The passages and titles confirm the two heir-apparent honors and the posthumous name.
  17. [17] Family background His grandfather was Lin Wanxuan, his maternal grandfather Chen Shian, his paternal uncle Lin Wenzao, and his cousins Lin Chunsan and Lin Fengji.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The kinship values give the named grandparents, paternal uncle, and cousins.
  18. [18] Wife and children His wife was Zheng; the kinship values give Lin Puqing's years as 1821–1873 and name his sons and nephew.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The kinship values name his wife, daughter, sons, and nephew and give Lin Puqing's birth and death years.
  19. [19] Friends and colleagues The association values identify three friends, a fellow degree-holder, and Tao Shu as a colleague.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The associations name the friends, fellow degree-holder, and colleague stated in the sentence.
  20. [20] Feng Guifen relationship Feng Guifen is listed both as Lin Zexu's student and as his disciple.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The two association values specify student and disciple relationships with Feng Guifen.
  21. [21] Principal works The listed works include 《林文忠公政書》, 《荷戈紀程》, 《信及錄》, and 《雲左山房詩文鈔》.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The text values list 《信及錄》, 《林文忠公政書》, and 《荷戈紀程》.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The biographical passages list the four works named in the sentence.
  22. [22] Other titles The remaining titles are all present in the associated text values.
    • CBDBLin Zexu (54819)The text values list the ten additional titles named in the sentence.
  23. [23] Poetry He wrote two seven-character quatrains under the stated title, and his ci poems are preserved separately.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The passages confirm the two quatrains and the separately noted ci poems.
  24. [24] Opium policy He advocated banning imported foreign opium and in 1833 proposed domestic cultivation to counter it.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The passage gives both the prohibition policy and the 1833 proposal for domestic cultivation.
  25. [25] Languages and translation He had at least a limited command of English and Portuguese and translated Western newspapers and books.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The passage states that he knew some English and Portuguese and worked on translations of Western newspapers and books.
  26. [26] Hai guo tu zhi and influence Wei Yuan compiled the translated documents into 《海國圖志》, which influenced the late-Qing Self-Strengthening Movement and Japan's Meiji Restoration.
    • Souyun林則徐 (65623)The passage attributes the compilation to Wei Yuan and states the work's influence in late Qing China and Meiji Japan.