Lin Zexu (August 30, 1785 – November 22, 1850), also known as Yuanfu, Shaomu and Shilin, was a native of Houguan County, Fujian Province. He was a politician, writer, thinker and national hero in the late Qing Dynasty.

Lin Zexu was a Jinshi in the 16th year of Jiaqing (1811). He served as a Hanlin editor, Zhejiang Hangjiahu Dao, Jiangsu Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, Donghe Governor, Jiangsu Governor, and Huguang Governor. In Jiangsu, he rectified the administration of officials, redressed unjust imprisonment, built water conservancy projects, and provided disaster relief; in Huguang, he vigorously carried out the anti-smoking campaign. In the 19th year of Daoguang (1839), when he went to Guangdong as an imperial envoy to ban opium, he sent people to conduct secret investigations, forced foreign opium merchants to hand over opium, and destroyed the confiscated opium in Humen. This incident is considered to be the fuse of the First Opium War. After the outbreak of the war, he ordered the military and civilians of Guangdong to be on high alert, making it impossible for the British army to succeed in Guangdong. Soon after, he was framed and dismissed from his post and sent to Yili. During this period, he was ordered to go to Zhenhai, Zhejiang to assist in defense, and stayed in Kaifeng to help deal with the Yellow River breach. In the 25th year of Daoguang (1845), he was re-employed and served as the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, the Governor of Shaanxi, the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, and was added as the Prince’s Grand Tutor. In the 30th year of Daoguang (1850), Lin Zexu was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner again, and was ordered to suppress the uprising of the God Worshipping Society. He died of illness in Puning, Chaozhou on the way. He was awarded the title of Prince’s Grand Tutor and the posthumous title of “Wen Zhong”. There are works such as “Lin Wen Zhong Gong Zheng Shu” handed down.

Lin Zexu traveled all over the country throughout his life and achieved outstanding results. Although he fought against Western invasions in Guangdong and Guangxi, he was open to Western culture, technology and trade, and advocated learning from the best and using them. The “Records of the Four Continents” compiled by him and the “Illustrated Records of Maritime Countries” compiled by Wei Yuan were both inspiring for the Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty and even the Meiji Restoration in Japan.

Full name: Lin Zexu
Alias: Lin Yuanfu, Lin Wenzhong
Personal name:
Yuanfu, also known as Shaomu, Shilin
Old Man of Shicun, Old Man of Shicun, Old Man of Qishierfeng, Layman of Pingquan, Sanren of Lishe, etc.
Posthumous name: Wenzhong
Era: Middle and late Qing Dynasty
Ethnic group: Han
Birthplace: Zuoyingsi Lane, Houguan County, Fujian (now No. 19, Zhongshan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian)
Date of birth: August 30, 1785
Date of death: November 22, 1850
Place of death: Hongyang Town, Puning County, Guangdong
Main achievements: Guangdong banned opium and destroyed it in Humen
Edited and compiled: “Records of the Four Continents” and “Chinese and Foreign Talks”
Suppressed the “Swordsman” uprising in Shaanxi and rectified the mining policy in Yunnan
Build water conservancy projects and control water in Donghe River
Main works : “Lin Wenzhong’s Official Book”, etc.
Highest official position:
Governor-General of Huguang, Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, etc. → Prince Taifu (gifted)
Ancestral place: Cendou, Haikou, Fuqing, Fujian, Jiumu Lin, Putian