Tomb of Lin Zhao'en

Tomb of Lin Zhao'en

The Tomb of Lin Zhao'en is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

Lin Zhao'en (1517–1598), courtesy name Maoxun, style name Longjiang, Taoist name Ziguzi, was a native of Chizhu in Putian. He founded the Xiawuni San Yi Jiao (also known as Xia Jiao), a religious movement advocating the unity of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. He was widely known as the "Master of the Three Teachings." During the Ming Dynasty, when Japanese pirates were causing havoc, he donated his family fortune to hire soldiers to defend the city, buried over 20,000 bodies, and taught people how to cure post-war plagues. He was deeply revered by the people, had significant influence both domestically and abroad, and overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia built many memorial shrines in his honor. This tomb was built in the fifth year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1571) when Lin Zhao'en was 55 years old. The tomb covers an area of approximately 70 square meters and faces south from the north. The burial mound is constructed of stone, with a plan shape resembling the Chinese character “风” (wind). It is 6 meters wide and 14 meters deep. The central part of the back wall is inscribed with “Ming San Jiao Xiansheng Ziguzi Longjiang Lin Mu” (Tomb of Lin Zhao'en, Style Name Longjiang, Taoist Name Ziguzi, Master of the Three Teachings of the Ming Dynasty). The top of the grave is adorned with a turtle-back pattern carved from a single piece of stone. A offering platform is placed in front, and there are three levels of terrace in front of the tomb. The Tomb of Lin Zhao'en was designated as a Fujian Provincial Cultural Heritage Site in 1985.