Lin Ding

Lin Ding (林鼎) (891-February 25, 944), courtesy name Huanwen (煥文), was an official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Wuyue, serving as the chancellor of the state during the reign of its second king Qian Yuanguan (né Qian Chuanguan) and probably during the reign of its third king Qian Hongzuo.

Lin Ding was born in 891, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang. The family of his father Lin Wuyin (林無隱) was from Houguan (侯官, in modern Fuzhou, Fujian), but Lin Wuyin, who was known to be a poet, left his home territory and was residing in Ming Prefecture (明州, in modern Ningbo, Zhejiang). Then-prefect of Ming, Huang Sheng (黃晟), was respectful to the intelligentsia, and Lin Wuyin became dependent on him for support. Lin Ding was thus born at Ming.

When Lin Ding grew older, he went to pay homage to then-ruler of the region, Qian Liu (whose domain had become the state of Wuyue). Qian Liu made Lin an officer at his headquarters, and soon thereafter assigned Lin to serve on staff of his son Qian Chuanguan. Qian Chuanguan became impressed with Lin's abilities, and often recommended him for greater responsibilities, but Qian Liu did not react. One day, when Qian Chuanguan again went to see his father to recommend Lin, Qian Liu responded, "Lin Ding has an unusual bone structure. He would have the proper disposition to be a chancellor. But I have no intention to give him great honors. I want you to be the one doing that, so that he would be faithful to you."

In 932, Qian Liu died. Qian Chuanguan (who then changed his name to Qian Yuanguan) assumed control of the state, and for some time only claimed the title of military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhenhai (鎮海, headquartered at Wuyue's capital Hang Prefecture (杭州), in modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang) and Zhendong (鎮東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang) Circuits, as vassal to Later Tang. He made Lin Ding his secretary and assistant in his role as military governor of Zhenhai.

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