Lin Xiyi (1193–?; elsewhere dated to 1271) was a Southern Song Neo-Confucian scholar and poet. His courtesy names were Suweng and Yuanweng; his sobriquets included Zhuxi, Yongzhai, and Yanzhai. He was a native of Fuqing in Fuzhou, present-day Fuqing, Fujian.
Life
His great-grandfather was Lin Changyan; his mother was Wang; his younger brother was Lin Yi, his agnatic cousin Lin Xidao, his eldest son Lin Yong, and his clan nephew Lin Hai.
In Duanping 2 (1235), he passed the jinshi examination and initially served as a judicial officer in the Pinghai Army. In Chunyou 6 (1246), he was summoned as a Corrector in the Palace Library, and in the following year became a compiler in the Privy Council; he was soon appointed governor of Raozhou. During Chunyou, he was also promoted to Palace Library Supervisor and appointed governor of Xinghua Army; under Jingding he became Assistant Grand Minister of Agriculture, and under Xianchun he ended his career as a Secretariat Drafter.
Other titles associated with him include Acting Hanlin Academician concurrently serving as Lecturer in the Chongzheng Hall, Director of the Secret Pavilion, Palace Collator, Merit Examination Director, Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites, Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Junior Minister of the Agricultural Administration. The offices of Assistant Director of the Ministry of Personnel's Merit Examination Office, Gentleman of the Merit Examination Office, and Upper Light Chariot Commandant are also associated with his career. His service as Guangnan East Transport Circuit Commissioner is dated to 1272–1274 in one listing, a chronology that conflicts with the separate 1271 death date.
He studied under Chen Zao, a fellow native of the same county, and became known for Daoxue. He excelled at poetry and at calligraphy and painting. He was a friend of Liu Kezhuang; Liu Zhensun and Fu Mengquan were also among his associates. Lin Zhou studied the Changes and the Spring and Autumn from him. He called the Chan master Dahui Zonggao (1089–1163) a “yuanxun” and expressed his respect for him.
Scholarship and works
His works include Yijiang, Chunqiu zhuan, Yanzhai's Explanation of the Kaogong ji, and the three commentaries Yanzhai Laozi kouyi, Yanzhai Zhuangzi kouyi, and Yanzhai Liezi kouyi. He also wrote the four-juan Daode zhenjing kouyi and the eight-juan Chongxu zhide zhenjing Yanzhai kouyi; Yanzhai's Explanation of the Kaogong ji and the three kouyi commentaries are extant.
The transmission of Yanzhai qianji, in 60 juan, is disputed: one account says it was lost, while another treats it as a work still in circulation. Zhuxi shiyi gao, in 90 juan, is considered lost; extant works include Zhuxi shiyi gao shixuan in one juan and Zhuxi Yanzhai shiyi gao xuji in 30 juan. Bibliographical titles also include Zhuxi gao, Zhuxi Yanzhai xuji, and Yanzhai xuji.
References
- 搜韵 林希逸 (28668)
- 法鼓佛教人名规范数据库 林希逸 (A005174)
- CBDB Lin Xiyi (11087)
- Wikidata Lin Xiyi (Q10346962)