Biography of Lin Zexu

Author: Lin Qingyuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-08-01
Features: Based on the discussion of the life of the national hero, this book delves deeply into the exploration and research of the ideas embodied within it. It emphasizes placing his activities and thoughts within the context of the transition from tradition to modernity, from feudal society to a semi-colonial society. Lin Zexu's thoughts, on one hand, represent an inheritance of tradition, while on the other hand, they reflect the modern society. His spirit of reforming societal flaws and his shift toward learning from the West perfectly mirror the turning point of modern Chinese society. His patriotism, on one hand, insists on resisting foreign military aggression, while on the other hand, he explores the path of self-strengthening through "learning from the barbarians," "controlling the barbarians," and "negotiating with the barbarians" in practice, a path that was later inherited and refined by his close friend Wei Yuan. Lin Zexu was not only a great national hero but also a great statesman who sought to explore how to resist powerful adversaries and open up a new era.