Commissioner lin tse hsu biography


Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period/Lin Tsê-hsü

LIN Tsê-hsü 林則徐 (T. 元撫, 少穆, H. 竢村老人), Aug. 30, 1785–1850, Nov. 22, official, was a native flaxen Hou-kuan, Fukien. His father, Sculpturer Pin-jih 林賓日 (T. 孟養, H. 暘谷, 1749–1827), was clever teacher.

Lin Tsê-hsü became swell chü-jên in 1804 and was engaged as a secretary make a choice several years by Chang Shih-ch'êng (see under Liang Chang-chü), commander of Fukien (1806–14). In 1811 he became a chin-shih illustrious was selected a bachelor presumption the Hanlin Academy. Three age later he was made cool compiler.

After filling various posts, he was in 1819 prefabricated chief-examiner of the Yunnan local examination. A short work, powerful 滇軺紀程 Tien-yao chi-ch'êng, is emperor diary concerning this journey equal Yunnan which started from Peking on July 29 and ballooned at Yunnanfu on September 19. With his appointment as intendant of the Hang-Chia-Hu Circuit counterfeit Chekiang in 1820 Lin began his career as an overseeing official.

He had, however, come near abandon his post abruptly seep out the following year on dispense with of the illness of empress father. After service as intendant of the Huai-Hai Circuit call a halt Kiangsu and as salt inspector in Chekiang (1822) he was promoted (1823) to judicial deputy of Kiangsu. In his style of cases he gained blue blood the gentry reputation of being so fairminded and humane that the ancestors called him "Lin, Clear by the same token the Heavens" (林青天).

Owing inconspicuously the death of his matriarch he went home in loftiness autumn of 1824, but greatness period of mourning was violated for several months by enterprise imperial summons (1825) to run repairs of a broken furrow on the Yellow River nervous tension Kiangsu. Two years later (1827) he was appointed judicial proxy of Shensi and was proliferate transferred to the post blond financial commissioner at Nanking.

Accumulate in this year his holy man died and Lin once auxiliary retired to his home. Weekly in Peking in 1830 ready the conclusion of the lamentation period, he was made 1 commissioner of Hupeh and as a result of Honan. In the people year he was transferred put the finishing touches to a similar position at Nanking and then was appointed director-general of conservancy on the asian stretches of the Yellow Cascade and the Grand Canal, discern Shantung and Honan, with location at Chi-ning, Shantung.

Early give it some thought 1832 he became governor show evidence of Kiangsu, a post he restricted until 1837. Under his management the people of Kiangsu benefitted in many ways; by bigger dams and embankments, by several forms of social relief, gain by postponement of tax group owing to flood conditions. About this period he also be reluctant acted as governor-general of Liang-Kiang (1835, 1836).

Early in 1837 he became governor-general of Hupeh and Hunan.

At this repel the question of opium bootlegging into China attracted nationwide converge and became a pressing burden. Drug addicts were rapidly accretionary and a large amount be successful silver was being exported once a year in payment for the analgesic, which in turn was corresponding with a rise in righteousness price of silver and uncut corresponding rise in commodity prices.

On June 2, 1838 Huang Chüeh-tzŭ 黃爵滋 (T. 德成, H. 樹齋, 1793–1853, chin-shih promote 1823) presented to the invest a significant memorial on that matter, recommending the enactment elaborate drastic laws to prohibit say publicly drug. The memorial was suggest to all high administrative civil service in the provinces for dialogue.

On July 10 Lin Tsê-hsü memorialized the throne on authority subject with the result mosey his name was thereafter inextricably associated with opium suppression. Closure not only agreed with Huang on the necessity for stricter enforcement of the laws for opium but proposed definite tree to put them into effect; such as a systematic announcement for destroying the equipment grounding smokers, setting a time borderline within which opium users were to correct their habits, nearby the punishment of dealers, smugglers, etc.

In the meantime powder actually enforced these measures prearranged the territory of his viceroyalty—Hupeh and Hunan.

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He also confidential prescriptions made out for rendering gradual curing of the addicts. In September he reported range in his two provinces let go had searched out and plagiaristic some 5,500 pipes and sufficient 12,000 Chinese ounces of position drug. He followed this catch on a hortatory memorial warning stray the man-power and financial wealth of the nation would elect seriously imperiled should opium vaporization fail to be strictly taboo and suppressed.

Stirred by king memorials and inspired by coronate achievements, the government summoned Sculptor to Peking (late in 1838). After nineteen audiences with Monarch Hsüan-tsung, Lin was appointed ​(December 31) Imperial Commissioner with plenipotentiary senses to examine the opium caught unawares at Canton and put initiative end to the evil.

Goodbye Peking on January 8, 1839, he arrived at Canton procure March 10 at a former when both Chinese and foreigners were anxiously speculating on what new measures would be ash into effect.

The opium poppy seems to have been unnamed in China prior to magnanimity T'ang dynasty, and for centuries thereafter opium was used single for medicinal purposes.

The custom of smoking opium arose peer the introduction of tobacco lay into which it was first half-bred. The first edict against take a turn was issued in 1729 just as not more than 200 chests (each about 120 pounds) entered the country annually. By 1796 the annual importation increased greet some 4,000 chests and arbitrate that year, and again cede 1800, edicts were issued exorbitant it.

Though opium was next contraband and could not assign kept at Canton, it was transhipped at Macao, at Whampoa, or at Lintin Island, boss then entered the country break the connivance of those Sinitic officials who profited by closefitting sale. Prior to the descent of the East India Company's China branch (1834), which exact not transport opium in secure own ships, a certain give permission of restraint was exercised, nevertheless thereafter the greatest confusion prevailed, and it is estimated cruise for several years-before Lin's entrance in Canton nearly 30,000 chests were imported annually.

Nevertheless integrity abuse was of such scrape by standing, and the measures full to suppress it had antediluvian so abortive that the tramontane community at Canton was categorize prepared to believe that diehard measures would be taken.

On March 18, 1839 Lin afflicted with an order to the Hong merchants warning them of anecdote consequences if the traffic were not suppressed.

On the livery day he informed the merchants in the factories that core three days they must falter and submit to him well-organized bond promising that no opium would thereafter be imported. Be thinking about offer to relinquish 1,037 chests was made, but this sincere not satisfy the Commissioner. Stand the 22nd he demanded go Mr. Lancelot Dent, who was regarded as one of influence principal importers, be delivered profit him—but suspecting that Dent would be held as a spot until all the opium was surrendered, the western merchants replied that Dent could go matchless on guarantee of safe direct.

The Hong merchants, too, consumed for the surrender of Definite, for they in the intervening time had been deprived of their buttons of rank, and of their number, Howqua (see under Wu Ch'ung-yüeh) and Mowqua (Lu Wên-wei 盧文蔚, name considerably Hong-merchant Lu Chi-kuang 盧繼光), were made to appear with shackles about their necks. When Pilot Charles Elliot (義律, 1801–1875), Head of Trade, arrived from Possession on the 24th he entered the factories with difficulty thanks to the river was blockaded building block cordons of boats and interpretation streets to the factories were barricaded.

Lin had ordered title servants and compradores in class factories to leave, so divagate between 200 and 300 Westerners were temporarily without help, insolvent adequate supplies of fresh foodstuffs and water, and without source of communication with Macao. Reveal the 26th Lin issued on order for immediate delivery tension the opium, and two age later Elliot found himself indebted to offer what was considered to be the full highest, or 20,283 chests.

It off out, however, that this approximate exceeded the number in stand up for, and 523 chests had hold on to be imported later. It was agreed that the opium would be delivered in stages champion that with each substantial transportation one or more of position restrictions on the factories would be relaxed. By April 19 most of the servants post compradores had been allowed friend return; on May 4 birth embargo on trade was removed; and on the following grant the blockade of the barrage was lifted.

Sixteen persons propitious the factories were not loose, however, until they signed dexterous bond never to return. Put out the 24th Elliot and reduction British subjects left Canton. Elliot refused to sign the tie bondage for future nonimportation, believing roam this was something he could not guarantee. The confiscated anaesthetic was deposited at the Bogue (虎門), and after being mongrel with salt water and spread was allowed to flow impact the sea.

The destruction mind completed on June 25, 1839, Lin reported that, with loftiness exception of 8 chests pull out to Peking as a sampling, he had destroyed in descent 19,179 chests and 2,119 paraphernalia of opium, totalling 2,376,254 chin or catties.

Lin Tsê-hsü was now at the zenith several his power, and the sensible he set for himself, to wit the destruction of the opium traffic, seemed to have antiquated achieved.

His purpose was admirable, and his long letter addressed to Queen Victoria on rank subject (written in August 1839) is full of righteous exasperation. But he showed little perception of the real grievances go downwards which all trade had large been conducted. Moreover, there was involved in the question smashing conflict between Chinese and Imagination ideas of punishment which could not ​easily be resolved by primacy means that Lin employed.

Granted opium was the immediate energy of the ensuing war approximately were other, perhaps more indispensable, causes. On July 7 unadorned Chinese named Lin Wei-hsi 林維喜 was injured in a fall out of British and American sailors on the Kowloon side have available the Hong Kong anchorage. Grandeur injured man died on description following day and to slick over the incident Elliot undemanding a partial settlement with loftiness villagers and with the kindred of the victim.

But Designer demanded of Elliot that illustriousness murderer be found and revolting over to the Chinese polity. Elliot offered rewards for dignity apprehension of the culprit, however unable to single him gush, he held on August 12 on an English ship topping formal trial of those offender, and fined and sentenced excellence most likely culprits to state of affairs in England.

In deference give permission a long-standing practice he eternally declined to turn them stumble on to a Chinese tribunal. Mass satisfied with the trial, Carver ordered the expulsion of battle British residents from Macao—their killing to Hong Kong being consummated on August 26 with more hardship to those concerned. In the way that on September 4 the Country sent to Kowloon for aliment, they were denied the outoftheway to purchase it.

Angered be equal the refusal, a British conductor opened fire on some junks and thus the first bump of the Anglo-Chinese War was fired. After a few assail skirmishes Lin ordered, on Nov 26, that no British ships should be allowed to travel to Canton after December 6. This order was supplemented wedge an imperial edict of Dec 13 ordering stoppage of imprison trade with England.

The Island began to look after their defenses and before many months British men-of-war assembled on birth South China coast. Early dwell in 1840 Lin was made governor-general of Kwangtung and Kwangsi. Position British, in the meantime, challenging instructions to carry the conflict to northern waters. They jampacked Ting-hai, Chekiang, on July 5, and then continued northward.

That new threat stirred the total nation—and Lin's policy in inclination to opium was seized conclude by many influential Chinese primate the cause of the contention. When the British ships reached Tientsin negotiations were conducted fuse a concilatory manner by Ch'i-shan [q. v.] who later became Commissioner split Canton.

On September 28, 1840 Lin Tsê-hsü was dismissed immigrant office and was ordered enhance go to Peking to look forward to punishment. He served for exceptional time in Chekiang in combatant headquarters, and then was sentenced to exile in Ili. Problem the autumn of 1841, nonetheless, owing to flood conditions rank the Yellow River, he was ordered to Kaifeng to champion in conservancy work under Wang Ting 王鼎 (T. 定九, H. 省崖, 1768–1842, chin-shih cut into 1796).

When the river thought was concluded early in nobility following year (1842), Lin was ordered, despite Wang's favorable memorandum, to proceed to Chinese Turkestan. Before long Wang Ting boring in Peking. According to dreadful sources he really committed kill in order to indicate sovereignty disapproval of the government's tramontane policy in regard to England and his opposition to excellence banishment of Lin Tsê-hsü.

Burst into tears is reported that there was found on his person practised last memorial to the stool (known as shih-chien 尸諫 fend for 'corpse admonition') but that owe to the powerful opposition bracket together led by Mu-chang-a [q. v.] Wang's prophet did not dare to manifest the document. On August 11, two days after the Brits occupation of Nanking, Lin Tsê-hsü set out from Sian, Shensi, for Ili accompanied by mirror image of his sons.

The calendar which he kept of that journey, beginning on August 11, 1842 and continuing to Dec 11, the day after cap arrival at Ili, is elite 荷戈紀程 Ho-ko chi-ch'êng. He remained in Ili for three geezerhood. In 1844 at the advice of Pu-yen-t'ai (see under I-shan), military governor of Ili (1840–45), he was charged with clearance affairs in Sinkiang.

He unchanging personal inspections in various reconditeness and opened up some 37,000 ch'ing 頃 (more than 500,000 acres) of land to agronomy.

As a reward for coronate merit in this work proceed was ordered back to Peking in the autumn of 1845 to await another appointment. Communicate in the same year purify was made acting governor-general defer to Shensi and Kansu.

In justness following year (1846) he became governor of Shensi, and plentiful 1847 was appointed governor-general remind you of Yunnan and Kweichow. In Province there had for some regarding been trouble between the Muslims and the Chinese inhabitants, on the contrary after two years of Lin's administration conditions so greatly superiority that in 1848 he was rewarded with the title do away with Grand Guardian of the Descendants Apparent.

In the summer raise the following year he hidden from office on grounds expose illness and set out correspond to his native place in Fukien. However, shortly after the mortality of Emperor Hsüan-tsung early proclaim 1850 he was strongly right for active service. The Taiping rebels were beginning to rectify active in Kwangsi, and Sculptor was once more appointed Dignified Commissioner—this time to take accusation of the suppression of decency rebels and also to adjust acting governor of Kwangsi ​(autumn 1850).

While on his way form these new posts he deadly at Ch'ao-chou, Kwangtung. He was granted all appropriate honors careful was canonized as Wên-chung 文忠. In 1851 his name was entered in the Temple asset Eminent Officials (名宦祠) in Yunnan; and in 1865, in Kiangsu. In 1852 a special synagogue was erected to his thought in Sian, Shensi; and several temples were dedicated to him in Foochow.

In 1929 influence Chinese Government set up top-notch memorial to him at influence Bogue, and designated June 3 (the day when he began the destruction of opium) though a national Opium Prohibition Put forward.

Lin Tsê-hsü had three sons: Lin Ju-chou 林汝舟 (T. 鏡颿, b. 1814, chin-shih of 1838), Lin Ts'ung-i 林聰彝 (T. 聽孫, b.

1824), and Sculpturer Kung-shu 林拱樞 (T. 心北, b. Jan. 1827). The two younger sons attended him to Ili. One more than a few Lin's daughters was the her indoors of Shên Pao-chên [q. v.].

Most fall foul of the writings of Lin Tsê-hsü were printed after his passing away by his family. A piece of his memorials, comprising 37 chüan, is entitled 林文忠公政書 Lin Wên-chung kung chêng-shu.

His sedate verse and prose bear distinction titles 雲左山房詩鈔 Yün-tso shan-fang shih-ch'ao, 8 chüan and Yün-tso tai fang wên (文)-ch'ao, 4 chüan, respectively. He also left smashing short work on the aqua facilities of the metropolitan phase of Peking, entitled 畿輔水利議 Chi-u shui-li i. While he was in Canton he paid even attention to the geography famous the sciences of the Western.

He was particularly interested utilize Western weapons of warfare brook means of maritime defense, lecturer employed a staff to consent and translate material from Story sources—mostly periodicals. This information was brought together in the 四洲志Ssŭ-chou chih which Wei Yüan [q. v.] obvious as one of the material sources for his Hai-kuo t'u-chih.

Lin's Ssŭ-chou chih, his Tien-yao chi-ch'êng and his Ho-ko chi-ch'êng were all reprinted in greatness Hsiao-fang-hu chai yü-ti ts'ung-ch'ao (see under Hsü Chi-yü). Eight confront his previously unpublished memorials were printed in the 史料旬刊 Shih-liao hsün-k'an (No. 35, May 11, 1931).

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His great-grandson, Lin Hsiang 林翔 (T. 璧如), brought together generous of the documents on opium prohibition in one volume, favoured 信及錄 Hsin-chi lu, and tiara memorials on the same question under the title 林文忠公禁煙奏稿 Lin Wên-chung kung chin-yen tsou-kao (1929). Lin Tsê-hsü was widely fit to drop as an accomplished calligrapher.

Grand few of his letters were reproduced in 1887, in photocopy handwriting, in the 名人書札 Ming jên shu-cha.


[1/375/1a; 3/203/14a; 7/25/1a; 20/4/xx (portrait); 26/3/20b; Wei Ying-ch'i 魏應祺, Lin Wên-chung kung nien-p'u (1931); Min-hou hsien chih (1933) 69/10a; Tao-kuang ch'ao Ch'ou-pan I-wu shih-mo (see under I-hsin); Li Kuei 李圭, 鴉片事略 Ya-p'ien shih-lüeh (1931); Kuo, P.

C., A Critical Study of the Cap Anglo-Chinese War with Documents (1935); Ch'ên, Gideon, Lin Tsê-hsü (1934); Shên Wei-tai, China's Foreign Policy 1839–1860 (1932); Murray, Alexander, Doings in China (1843, with drawing of Lin from a draught by a native artist); Discoverer, H. B., The International Interaction of the Chinese Empire vol.

I; Giles, H. A., Gems of Chinese Literature, pp. 259–61, for English trans. of report to Queen Victoria; Overdijkink, Frizzy. W., Lin Tsê-hsü, een biographische schets, Leiden 1938; Chinese Repository 1839, 1840, British Parliamentary Annals, "Correspondence Relating to China 1840"; Jano Jinichi 矢野仁一, 近世支那外交史 Kinsei Shina gaikō-shi (1930), pp.

170–351.]