Poetry & Culture
Lin Yuantong's Poetry Collection — a century of verse by nineteen poets in 128 seven-character poems
Lin Yuantong (1895-?), son of Lin Dengyun's fifth household, was one of the most active figures of the Meihe Lin family during the Japanese era. Besides serving as managing director of the Sanceng Credit Cooperative and president of the Daxi Financial Company, he was a man of considerable literary cultivation — his study 'Jingyuan Hall' served as a gathering place for poetry and literary exchange.
The 'Lin Yuantong Poetry Collection' is a handwritten anthology compiled by Lin Yuantong, bound with thread on xuan paper and preserved for nearly a century. It encompasses 19 authors, 42 themes, and 128 seven-character poems totaling 4,220 characters — a precious testament to the literary tradition of the Meihe Lin family.
In 2025, the Lin Dengyun Memorial Cultural and Educational Foundation executed the 'Meihe Poetry Chanting' exhibition project, digitizing the collection, researching the stories behind the poems, and publicly displaying them for the first time at Jingyuan Hall and adjacent exhibition rooms in Meihe Shanzhuang.
The Meihe Poetry Chanting exhibition was held at Jingyuan Hall, Room 2, and Room 3 of Meihe Shanzhuang, featuring calligraphy couplets, seven-character quatrains, and regulated verse alongside historical photographs and artifacts.
A recreation of Lin Yuantong composing poetry spontaneously at banquets, paired with family photographs and original manuscripts that capture the poet's living context.
Showcasing the Lin family's history from the Qing to Japanese eras, accompanied by the calligraphy couplet 'Ascending a thousand steps to seize the moon / Traversing ten thousand miles to reach the sky' — reflecting the family's ambition and literary flair.
Multiple poems themed around Daxi, including verses composed at Daxi Park, Qingyun Pavilion, and Tianxiang Tea Garden, documenting the landscapes and customs of Daxi during the Japanese era.
One of the most captivating chapters in the collection is the 'Debate' conducted through poetry. Lin Tianyin, Lin Yuansong, and Lin Yuantong each expressed their views on the same topic through seven-character poems, exchanging arguments in verse — showcasing the unique family tradition of 'meeting through literature, debating through poetry.'
This tradition of poetic dialogue not only demonstrates the Lin family's literary sophistication but also reflects the cultural life of Taiwan's gentry class during the Japanese era — even family disagreements were expressed elegantly through verse.
The collection also includes 'Reflections on Current Events' about the 228 Incident, a real-time poetic record of the Lin family's response to a major historical event — an invaluable primary source.
Centered on Lin Weilong, this diagram maps the kinship and literary connections among the collection's nineteen poets, including key figures Lin Tianyin, Lin Yuansong, and Lin Yuantong.
