The Origin of Lim

The Lim (林) clan name originated as a subsidiary of Zi (子), one of the noble surnames of Ancient China. The founding ancestor of the Lim clan is Bigan (比干), an aristocrat from the Shang Dynasty. In 1029 BCE, Bigan was the uncle of King Zhou (紂王), as well as an influential court official of high rank. Bigan angered King Zhou through his earnest advice and admonishment, and was executed by the method of cutting off the heart. He was buried in Mu Ye of Yin Ji (7 km north of modern day Weihui City 衛輝市). After the slaughter of Bigan, King Zhou wanted his entire clan eradicated. Bigan’s wife, of the Chen (陳) clan, was pregnant with child at the time, and escaped the wrath of King Zhou with four maids to Muye (牧野), eventually settling in Changlin (長林) (modern day Northwest Wei Hui City). She gave birth to a boy in a stone house, and named him Jian (堅), with the courtesy name Changsi (長思). When King Wu of Zhou (武王) defeated the Shang King, the wife of Bigan dedicated Jian to the service of the Zhou Dynasty. Because Jian was born in Changlin, King Wu gifted him with the surname of Lin/Lim (林), the aristocratic peerage of one of the Three Guards (三監) of Zhou, and the use of the fief of Boning (博陵). Weihui became the birthplace of the Lim clan, with Lin Jian as the grand ancestor of the clan and Bigan as the founding ancestor.

The Genealogy of Lim

The founding ancestor of the Lim clan is Bigan; his son Jian, who was originally named Quan (泉), escaped to Changlin and was gifted the the clan name Lim by King Wu of Zhou; he fathered a son, Zai (載), who inherited his Fief and the title of Guard. Zai fathered Cuo (磋), who lost the fief, but remained living in Boning. Cuo fathered Hu (虎), who served as a Lord under King Cheng of Wu. Hu fathered Guang (光), a scholar for King Kang of Zhou. Guang fathered Shang (相), who was named State Supervisor of the Ancient Chinese States for the King Zhao of Zhou. Shang fathered Xuan (玄), a court official. Xuan fathered Feng (鳳), Feng fathered Yi (翊), Yi fathered Chang (萇), a military officer. As King Wang of Zhou moved eastward, Chang’s heir was Cai (材), who was in charge of the armies.

The History of the Name of the Lim Clan and its Subsidiaries

(1) The Genealogy of Changlin

To commemorate our ancestor’s birth in a stone house in Changlin, the Ancestral Hall of the Lim Clan is also known as Changlin. 

(2) The Emergence of the Sai Hor Subsidiary (House of Sai Hor) of the Lim Clan

“Sai Hor” (西河) is not a river, but rather refers to “House of Sai Hor” (西河堂), “The Lim Clan of Sai Hor (西河林氏),” “The Lineage of the Sai Hor Nine Dragons (西河九龍族譜)” and other titles that refer to Sai Hor. The Founding Ancestor of the Lim Clan, Bigan, was born and raised, as well as served in office and died at his post at Zhaoge. Grand Ancestor Lin Jian was born and raised in Zhaoge, and he also received the gift of his surname and title from King Wu of Zhou in Zhaoge. In the early Zhou dynasty, the ancient state of Wei established the county of Sai Hor in the Zhaoge region at the site of the ancient Yellow River and west of the Qihe River region (modern day Ji Province, approximately located in the northern Henan and southern Hebei regions). The Sai Hor County is therefore the earliest site where the Lim Clan was established. 

During the Spring and Autumn period, Lin Fang (林放), the 26th generation descendant of Grand Ancestor Lin Jian (some sources also say he is the 13th or the 23rd generation descendant, but 26 generations make the most logical sense since there is 600 - 700 hundred years between the early Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn period, and 26 generations fits the timeframe), was a contemporary of Confucious. Because he found his learning insufficient for the demands of the times, he sought tutelage under Confucious to seek the meaning of ritual. He was later named as one of Confucious’ 72 outstanding disciples and honoured with a permanent shrine at the Temple of Confucius. During the 10th year of the Tianbao era during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (715 CE), the Emperor Xuanzong visited the Temple of Confucius. He saw that the name of Lim was listed on the wall gate of the temple among those honoured for seeking tutelage under Confucius. In honour of the birthplace of the Lim clan in the western region of Qihe River and the clan’s home in the country of Sai Hor, the emperor granted Lim the title of Earl of Sai Hor (西河伯爵). From then on, most ancestral halls of the Lim Clan include the words Sai Hor, which is where the name “House of Sai Hor” originated. 

House Motto

“From the western misty mountains three virtuous ancestors left a legacy of auspicious accomplishments, waters from both tributaries of the benevolent river carry the blessed family name for generations to come.”

(3) “Ten Virtues Carry the Blessed Family Name for Generations”  (The House of Nine Dragons, The House  of Ten Virtues)

In the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Lin Gao (林皋), courtesy name Bowen(伯聞), the 15th descendant of Lin Jian, first served as an official for Eastern Zhou, then as the Grand Chancellor of Zhao. His wife was of the Hu (胡) clan. Lin Gao had nine sons, Zi (子), Ren (仁), Nian (年), Sheng (升), Chang (昶), mothered by his first wife of the Hu clan, and Wen (文), Yao (曜), Yue (岳), Zuo (佐), Wei (衛), mothered by his second and third wife. They are all known for acts of benevolence and compassion, earning them the aliases “Nine Dragons Father and Son” and “The House of Ten Virtues.” For this reason, the Lim clan has the subsidiaries “The House  of Nine Dragons” or “The House of Ten Virtues.”

House motto

“From the House of Nine Dragons new dragons soar, Virtue grow deep in the Ten Virtues Hall.”

(4) The Emergence of the Jinan Subsidiary (House of Jinan)

Lin Dian (林墊), the 18th descendant of Lin Jian, served as the Grand Chancellor of the Yan State under Emperor Gaozu of Han, and was given the title of Marquis of Pingji (平棘侯). Together with the Three Heroes of Early Han (漢三傑), Xiao He (蕭何), Zhang Liang (張良), and Han Xin (韓信), he furthered the conquest of the Han Emperor and earned significant victories and merit. His son Pi Jiang (辟疆) moved out of Sai Hor to accompany the Emperor Jing of Han to the Qi State, which was renamed the county of Jinan by Emperor Gaozu of Han, later settling in the Xia Pi county (下邳) in the Western Jin Dynasty. To commemorate Jinan as the second established birthplace of the Lim Clan, there is a subsidiary of the Lim clan who call themselves the House of Jinan.

House Motto

“Gifts of benevolence and prosperity were received from the emperor, virtues of the southern county will be passed on for long generations.” 

(5) Nine Officials Leave a Good Reputation for Generations (House of Kow Mock, Public Office of Kow Mock)

The House of Kow Mock (Nine Officials/九牧) originated from grand ancestor Min Lin, descendent of Lin Lu (林祿), who fathered the Nine Officials of Puyang (aka the Nine Officials of Tang), also known as the Early Nine Officials. During the Song Dynasty, there was another family of Nine Officials from Quanzhou, who were known as the Later Nine Officials. Together, the two families were known as “the Two Laurels.” In the 10th year of the Tianbao Era of the Tang Dynasty, Lin relocated to serve the Crown Prince as magistrate of States of Zhang and Kang. He fathered nine sons, who all became officials, and was known as the Lim Clan of the Nine Officials, or the Nine Officials of Tang (aka Early Nine Officials). 

Honourable Ancestor Tao (韜公), known as the Lim clan under the watch tower, and served as an official of the Song Dynasty. He fathered three sons, Ji (杞), Pu (朴), and Zhi (植). Lin Ji fathered nine sons, all of whom became Jinshi (進士) scholars, and together with his sons, were commemorated as the Ten Scholars at the time. Descendents refer to his nine sons as the Nine Officials of Song (Later Nine Officials). 

House motto

“Nine brother officials from the Tang Dynasty, Ten scholar father and sons from the Song Dynasty.”

(6) The House of Loyalty and Filial Piety 

In the sixth year of the Jiaxi Era of the North Song Dynasty, Lin Yue (林悅), royal scholar to the emperor, sought leave from Emperor Renzong of Song to return home and sweep the tombs of his ancestors. He presented the genealogy of his family, and Renzong learned that he is descended from the ancestor Bigan. In commemoration of Bigan’s loyalty, and the filial piety of Lin Yue, the emperor wrote the words Loyalty (忠) and Filial Piety (孝) on the book of his family genealogy. The House of Loyalty and Filial Piety of the Lim clan was thus born. 

House motto

"The sound of loyalty and filial piety is as old as heaven and earth, from ancient times to now were born countless grandchildren of great virtue."