Lin Hongnian (, 1805–1885) was a politician, writer and

calligrapher Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...

of the

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

. Lin was born in Houguan county,

Fuzhou Fuzhou (; , Fuzhounese: Hokchew, ''Hók-ciŭ''), alternately romanized as Foochow, is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian province, China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute t ...

. In 1836, he achieved the highest score in the

Imperial examination The imperial examination (; lit. "subject recommendation") refers to a civil-service examination system in Imperial China, administered for the purpose of selecting candidates for the state bureaucracy. The concept of choosing bureaucrats by ...

and was appointed as the senior compiler in the

Hanlin Academy The Hanlin Academy was an academic and administrative institution of higher learning founded in the 8th century Tang China by Emperor Xuanzong in Chang'an. Membership in the academy was confined to an elite group of scholars, who performed sec ...

(翰林院修撰). He was the first ''

zhuangyuan ''Zhuangyuan'', or ''trạng nguyên'' in Vietnamese, variously translated into English as principal graduate, primus, or optimus, was the title given to the scholar who achieved the highest score on highest level of the Imperial examination, (i ...

'' from

Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...

during the Qing dynasty. Two years later, the Chinese Qing court sent him as the chief envoy to

Ryukyu Kingdom The Ryukyu Kingdom, Middle Chinese: , , Classical Chinese: (), Historical English names: ''Lew Chew'', ''Lewchew'', ''Luchu'', and ''Loochoo'', Historical French name: ''Liou-tchou'', Historical Dutch name: ''Lioe-kioe'' was a kingdom in the ...

for the investiture of Shō Iku, while

Gao Renjian Gao , or Gawgaw/Kawkaw, is a city in Mali and the capital of the Gao Region. The city is located on the River Niger, east-southeast of Timbuktu on the left bank at the junction with the Tilemsi valley. For much of its history Gao was an impor ...

(高人鑑) was the deputy envoy. The mission had stayed in Ryukyu for 160 days, and Lin wrote down an official account of the Ryukyu islands entitled ''Shi Liuqiu-lu'' (使琉球錄), however this book was lost. He also compiled a document titled ''Nautical Route from Fujian to Ryukyus'' (福建往琉球針路) together with Gao Renjian. Later, Lin had served as the magistrate of Qiongzhou (瓊州知府, 1846–1849), Governor of Lei Qiong Circuit (雷瓊道道員, 1849–1859), magistrate of

Lin'an Linan or Lin'an may refer to the following locations in China: *Hangzhou (), formerly named Lin'an () in the Song Dynasty **Lin'an District (), a district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Towns and Townships *Linan, Fujian, a town in Xianyou County, Fujian * ...

(臨安知府, 1859–1863), the Judicial Commissioner of

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...

(雲南按察使, 1863), and the Administrative Commissioner of Yunnan (雲南布政使, 1863–1864). Lin was appointed as the

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

of Yunnan (雲南巡撫) in 1864. He took part in the suppression of the

Taiping Rebellion The Taiping Rebellion, also known as the Taiping Civil War or the Taiping Revolution, was a massive rebellion and civil war that was waged in China between the Manchu-led Qing dynasty and the Han, Hakka-led Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. It lasted fr ...

. In 1866, he was accused of "overstay due to being in dread of the rebels (畏寇逗留)" and was stripped of official position. Although rehabilitated in the same year, he was tired of power struggle and decided to retire. Invited by

Zuo Zongtang Zuo Zongtang, Marquis Kejing ( also spelled Tso Tsung-t'ang; ; November 10, 1812 – September 5, 1885), sometimes referred to as General Tso, was a Chinese statesman and military leader of the late Qing dynasty. Born in Xiangyin County ...

, Lin returned to his hometown, Fuzhou, and became the master of the Zhengyi Shuyuan academy (正誼書院), which was the precursor of the Fuzhou No.1 Middle School., select "第七篇　人　物" then select "第二章　人物表", select "第七篇　人　物" then select "第一章　人物传" He raised a large number of students from 1866 to 1885, including Chen Baochen,

Lin Shu Lin Shu (, November 8, 1852 – October 9, 1924; courtesy name Qinnan () was a Chinese man of letters, especially for introducing Western literature to a whole generation of Chinese readers, despite his ignorance of any foreign languages. Coll ...

, , and .

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lin, Hongnian 1805 births 1885 deaths 19th-century Chinese writers Politicians from Fuzhou Qing dynasty politicians from Fujian Qing dynasty calligraphers Qing dynasty writers Writers from Fujian 19th-century births Imperial Chinese missions to the Ryukyu Kingdom