Sang Lin

Sang Lin (常林, ? ~ ?) was an official of Chinese Later Han late ~ Three Kingdoms period Wei state, whose courtesy name was Bohuai (伯槐), and who was a person of Wen County (溫縣), Henei Commandery, in Sili.

Conduct

At the age of seven, he gained fame for pointing out that a friend of his father had addressed his father by his courtesy name without proper respect. Governor Wang Kuang of Henei raised troops to attack Dong Zhuo, and he investigated the officials and common people of the county, punished them for crimes, and, if they did not atone with goods, exterminated their clans. When Sang Lin's uncle was caught by Wang Kuang for striking someone, Sang Lin visited Hu Mubiao (胡母彪), a fellow native of the county, and asked him to restrain Wang Kuang's tyranny; Hu Mubiao rebuked Wang Kuang, and the uncle was not put to death.

He fled to Shangdang and personally farmed the land. Once, when a plant disease struck, only Sang Lin's harvest was abundant, and he distributed it to his neighbors. The Governor of Shangdang, Zhang Yang, coveted the women and wealth of the Chen and Feng families, who had served as officials for generations; Sang Lin protected them, and although he was besieged for more than sixty days, he ultimately preserved them.

The Supervising Secretary and Acting Governor of Bing Province, Yang Xi, recommended the notable men within the province, and Sang Lin was recommended together with Yang Jun, Wang Ling, Wang Shang, and Shun Wei; he became a magistrate and governed well. He served as Governor of Boling and Inspector of You Province, and again achieved merit. When Cao Pi became Gentleman of the Palace for Wuguan, Sang Lin became his Gongcao. When Cao Cao went west on campaign, Tian Yin (田銀) and Su Bo (蘇伯) rebelled, and You Province and Ji Province were thrown into disorder; when Cao Pi was about to personally lead a punitive expedition, Sang Lin advised that he not go in person but send a general in his place, and this advice was accepted.

He went out to serve as Governor of Pingyuan and Deputy Commandant of Dongbu of Weijun, and returned to the capital to serve as Dongzhaosu. After the founding of the Wei state, he became Shangshu. In the first year of the Huangchu era (220), when Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he was promoted to Shaofu and enfeoffed as Marquis of Leyang. He was moved to Dasinong.

When Emperor Ming acceded, he was promoted and enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoyang Village, and was moved to Guanglu Xun and Taichang. At that time, Sang Lin was upright and pure in conduct, and there was discussion of making him a Gongbao. Sang Lin, considering himself old, feigned illness and retired, becoming Guanglu Dafu. He died at the age of 83 and was posthumously given the title General of the Table of Ranks; he was buried with the rites of a Duke, and was given the posthumous name Zhen (貞).

Anecdotes

When Sang Lin was Shaofu, he governed his officials strictly. At that time, the Shaofu's office was next to the gate of the Honglu, so Grand Honglu Cui Lin, who heard the sounds of Sang Lin flogging officials each time, considered that Sang Lin's conduct was not proper. Sang Lin flogged officials at night, and the officials' cries of agony, unable to bear the pain, did not stop until sunrise. The next day, Cui Lin, leaving his gate, met Sang Lin and mocked him: "I hear that you have become Tingwei, is it true?" Sang Lin, not knowing Cui Lin's intent, answered: "No." Then Cui Lin replied: "If you are not Tingwei, why did you interrogate prisoners last night?" Sang Lin was deeply ashamed, but could not stop.

When his fellow townsman Sima Yi regarded Sang Lin as an elder of virtuous reputation from their hometown and always bowed to him, someone told Sang Lin that Sima Yi was a noble person and he should have him stop this. However, Sang Lin considered that maintaining the order between elders and juniors was right, and did not follow this advice.