Lin Xu (; 1875 – 28 September 1898),

courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China China, officially the People's R ...

Tungu (), was a Chinese politician, scholar, songwriter and poet who lived in the late

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 ...

. He was also a student of

Kang Youwei Kang Youwei (; Cantonese: ''Hōng Yáuh-wàih''; 19March 185831March 1927) was a prominent political thinker and reformer in China of the late Qing dynasty. His increasing closeness to and influence over the young Guangxu Emperor spar ...

, a prominent official and one of the leaders of a reform movement in the late Qing dynasty. Lin Xu was one of the " Six Gentlemen of Wuxu". On September 28, 1898, he was executed at Caishikou Execution Grounds in

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

Biography

Lin Xu was born in Houguan (侯官), which is now

Fuzhou, Fujian 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 ...

. He took 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 ...

locally and obtained the position of a "

Jieyuan 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 ...

" () in 1893. In 1895, he was appointed as an official in the Qing imperial court by the Guangxu Emperor. In April 1898, in response to foreign

imperialism Imperialism is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas, often through employing hard power ( economic and ...

and internal political turmoil within the Qing government, Lin co-founded the State Protection Association () with others to oppose

colonialism Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their rel ...

. He fought for radical social, educational and political reforms in China. As one of the Six Gentlemen who attempted to implement the Hundred Days' Reform programme with backing from the Guangxu Emperor, Lin advocated a radical position in which China adopt a modern-style government and convert the

absolute monarchy Absolute monarchy (or Absolutism as a doctrine) is a form of monarchy in which the monarch rules in their own right or power. In an absolute monarchy, the king or queen is by no means limited and has absolute power, though a limited constituti ...

system into a

constitutional monarchy A constitutional monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in decision making. Constitutional monarchies di ...

. However, on 21 September 1898, the conservative faction in the Qing government, led by

Empress Dowager Cixi Empress Dowager Cixi ( ; mnc, Tsysi taiheo; formerly Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Empress Dowager T'zu-hsi; 29 November 1835 – 15 November 1908), of the Manchu people, Manchu Nara (clan)#Yehe Nara, Yehe Nara clan, was a Chinese nob ...

, saw the Hundred Days' Reform programme as a foreign plot to overthrow the government. The State Protection Association was disbanded, and the Hundred Days' Reform was terminated, while the Six Gentlemen were arrested and imprisoned. Seven days later, on 28 September,

ordered the Six Gentlemen to be executed outside

Xuanwu Gate Xuanwumen or Xuanwu Gate may refer to: * Xuanwumen (Beijing) (宣武门), a former gate in southern Beijing that was demolished in 1965 * Xuanwu Gate Incident, a coup set in Tang Dynasty in China *Xuanwumen ( 玄武门), a gate of Xuanwu Lake as pa ...

References

Qing dynasty politicians from Fujian 1875 births 1898 deaths Politicians from Fuzhou Writers from Fuzhou Musicians from Fuzhou Poets from Fujian Qing dynasty poets {{China-politician-stub