I met Celia Liu, a descendant of Commissioner Lin, at a reading in Brooklyn (see my post of October 28). She recently sent me the following message.
‘I’m sending you some family pictures. Lin Zexu had three daughters, one married my father’s paternal great-grandfather C.S. Liu,
and another, Lin Puqing, married her cousin Shen Baozhen,
who were my father’s maternal great-grandparents. C.S Liu went on to found the regional electrical company, and had sons who were scholars and businessmen – the photograph of him is from 1875. Unfortunately I do not know much about this Lin sister.
The other picture is a lithograph made as a memorial of Lin Puqing and Shen Baozhen after their deaths. Shen was an imperial official like Lin; he led Imperial troups against the Taipings, was a Minister of the Navy and was responsible for founding the Chinese naval college. During the Taiping Rebellion, Shen was the prefect of the city of Guangxin. While Shen was away with his troops, the city was threatened by 10,000 Taiping troops. Lin Puqing refused to leave the city, writing a plea for reinforcements to the Regional Commander in her own blood – a medium that surely emphasized the dire situation. Shen returned to Guangxin in time and the reinforcements arrived, saving the city.
The Lin’s, Liu’s and Shen’s all lived in the same neighborhood in Fuzhou city, now called Sanfang Qixiang or three lanes seven alleys. This neighborhood, its houses and business district have been restored in the last few years, kind of a historic Williamsburg or Sturbridge Village but in southern China and much older. It is a strange, but picturesque island of stone, stucco and timber traditional courtyard houses and shops in a sea of concrete high-rises. I went to Fuzhou and Fujian this past August and visited two Liu family homes and Lin Zexu’s house which is now a museum. The Shen Baozhen house has not been restored, however some Shen descendants still live in the house and refuse to give it up to the government.’
Celia Liu must be my great-uncle/aunt’s granddaughter! Can you put us in touch? Thanks!
hi all, great to hear from distant relatives…this is tom shen, chinese name:
??? …my website is http://www.tomshen.net…i have the same painting of Lin Puqing and Shen Baozhen in my entry hall…best, tom
CS Liu was my maternal great grandmother’s grandfather. I’m trying to research my family tree and it’s lovely to find this.
Have you seen Lin Sisters Descendants genealogy?
No, I haven’t seen the Lin sisters descendants genealogy. Is there a website link?
I am a descendant as well, of Commisher Lin. I’m in NJ. Good stuff. Tom Shen and I are cousins. I hadn’t been to Chinatown in a while to visit the statue of y brat grandfather x6. I will soon.
I am a descendant as well, of Commisher Lin. I’m in NJ. Good stuff. Tom Shen and I are cousins. I hadn’t been to Chinatown in a while to visit the statue of my great grandfather x6. I will soon.
Richard and Celia are 2nd cousins?! Can’t wait to get Michelle’s reply. Happy Thanksgiving to Cousins Tom, Celia, Richard, Michelle and families!
Can you put Michelle Lee in touch with me, Celia and Tom? Thanks!
I can be contacted on leeshunwen@gmail.com
You can get in touch with me (Michelle Lee) on leeshunwen@gmail.com
So good to find Governor General Lin’s descendents! Did Govenor Lin have any sons? I am a descendent of Governor Lin’s great grandfather from the Tang dynasty and part of the “Nine Mayors Lin Family Division”. Does that make us cousins? Anyway, let’s get in touch! 🙂
C.S Liu had seven children, the youngest, Liu Changye was my paternal grandfather. He grew up in Shanghai and later relocated to Changsha, Hunan where practiced as a physician until his death. Sadly I never met him. I grew up in the states, in Virginia, anyone else a descendant of CS Liu?
Franklin, where are you in Va? What Chinese character is your generational name? CS Liu’s great-grandkids are Ye(h) generation.
Franklin-How best can you be reached? Ye generation are CS Liu’s great-grandkids so your dad’s Kwang/Guang generation.
Yes, Imperial Commissioner Lin had sons yet most notable was daughter Lin Pu-ching ??? for writing a letter in her own blood to plea for reinforcements when husband Viceroy Shen Pao-chen was away with troops during the Taiping Rebellion. General Jao saved Lady Lin’s town and their descendants generations later married. Grandpa’s imperial ancestor Yen vouched for Grandma’s ancestor Lin so we’ve many elders to thank!
Imperial Commissioner Lin’s great-grandkids http://www.ntu.edu.tw Dean/History Prof CH Liu ??? ??? JY Shen were my great-uncle/-aunt
??????????????????ॲ – Brain Lair Books https://shop.brainlairbooks.com/book/9781647847890
http://www.ucdavis.edu/news/kwang-ching-liu-19th-century-china-expert-dies Dean Liu’s grandnephew was a distinguished history prof too!