Love in the Shadow of Death
The Life and Letter of Lin Juemin
By Hanyu Tales (22nd May 2025)
A revolutionary facing death, writing a love letter as both a farewell to his wife and a declaration of ideals. Few letters can match Lin Juemin’s Letter to My Wife in terms of its depth and impact. This masterpiece of personal writing balances politics, romance, and philosophy, and is still taught in schools and featured in exhibitions today. But what makes it so special?
Historical Context
The letter was written in the late Qing Dynasty, while China was facing foreign invasions, internal corruption, and calls for reform. These issues led to the rise of various revolutionary movements, which aimed to overthrow Qing rule.
Lin Juemin is one name etched in revolutionary history. He was born in Fujian province, in 1887, but educated in Japan, where he became exposed to modern and revolutionary thought. Later on, Lin Juemin joined Sun Yat-sen’s Tongmenghui group, a revolutionary organization that aimed to overthrow the Qing dynasty and establish a republic in China. As a member, Lin became actively involved in revolutionary planning and propaganda work. In 1905, he participated in the Canton Uprising, during which failed plans to storm Qing government offices led to Lin’s capture. The letter he wrote to his wife was written just before his capture and later execution.
Image by: Unknown
The Content of the Letter
On the eve of his death, Liu Juemin writes to his pregnant wife, expressing deep love, recalling their life together, explaining why he must sacrifice himself for the nation's future, and asking her to raise their children with his ideals while finding strength in his memory. The letter is poetic and emotionally intense, focusing on various themes:
- Love and Longing: He knows his wife’s pain and wishes he could be there for her and their unborn child.
- Love and Duty: His loyalty to the cause creates a conflict between itself and the love for his family.
- Sacrifice: He would rather die for the people than live for himself.
Why It Still Matters
Lin Juemin is remembered as one of the 72 martyrs of the Canton uprising, while his letter continues to be included Chinese literature textbooks for both style and historical significance. Lin Juemin’s letter is not just historical — it's timeless. One of the unique aspects of this letter is that it reveals the personal life of a revolutionary, rather than only his beliefs. This brings a human element to the text, meaning it still resonates today, and the letter has become a symbol of noble sacrifice, a rare insight into how revolutionaries balanced emotion and duty.
Click here to read Lin Juemin’s timeless letter with reading tools such as pinyin, translations, and audio!