Lin Clan｜Nine Dragons, Branching Far: A Giant Clan of Fujian, Taiwan, and the Nanyang｜The Surname Archive·SoChina

Key Nanyang Chinese SurnameCentral Plains Origin

OriginsOrigin

Main lineage: From the Zi surname. Bi Gan, uncle of King Zhou of Shang, was put to death; his son took refuge at Changlin Mountain and adopted Lin (forest) as his surname.

A clan of many sources: Branches include the Lin clan of the Ji surname and ethnic-minority surname changes.

Root points: Qixian, Henan; Putian, Fujian.

Migration RoutesMigration Routes

▸ Internal migration: The founding ancestor was in the Central Plains; the Jin-era migration moved into Fujian; in the Tang the Lin clan flourished in Fujian, forming the Nine Marshals (Jiumu) Lin; the Tang and Song spread it into eastern Guangdong.

▸ Overseas branches: Lins of southern Fujian formed the main wave to the Nanyang and were among the earliest major surnames to settle Taiwan.

Cultural SymbolsCULTURAL SYMBOLS

CommanderyXihe 西河

Hall NameXihe Hall 西河堂 · Jiumu Hall 九牧堂

Family PreceptsHand down loyalty and filial piety; keep kin close and the clan in harmony

Ancient NotablesBi Gan, Lin Pi

Overseas Community Leaders[To be added]

Classic StoryThe Renown of the Nine Marshals

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Jiumu Hall and Xihe Hall are the two great hall names of the Lin clan, which honors Bi Gan as founding ancestor; Putian, Fujian, is the clan's most important southern ancestral seat. Southern Fujian is the core emigrant homeland for the Nanyang, and the Nine Dragons Hall Lin associations there wield great influence.