Lin was of Teochew origin, and he was described as being from either Chenghai or Huilai in Guangdong. Later he moved to Quanzhou, Fujian. Lin was part of the wokou piratical activity that plagued the Chinese coast during the reign of the Ming Jiajing Emperor. He attacked Zhao'an in 1563, where he was said to have burnt hundreds of houses killing thousands. In response, the Ming navy led by Yu Dayou drove Lin away first to Penghu islands, later to Beigang, Taiwan. Yu occupied Penghu after driving Lin away, but did not pursue Lin to Taiwan. Lin escaped to Champa, but after another defeat, he went to Luzon in the Philippines. By 1567, he was again raiding along the coast of China, and in 1568, and the Ming authority placed a bounty on Lin in an attempt to capture him. Lin was reported to have 5,000 followers in July 1569. At some point he was said to have been attacked by another pirate chief Lin Feng, who captured 55 of his ships. Ming records state that Lin was "most crafty and cunning", and would alternately rebel and swear allegiance to the Ming authority. It was reported in 1573 that he had rebelled, and fled to find sanctuary in a foreign country. He settled in Pulo Condore in 1574. in Patani, claimed by some locals to have been built by Lin Daoqian By the first half of 1570s, Lin was already operating in the Patani area, and the Ming authority joined force with the Siamese navy as well as using Portuguese ships to combat the pirates. In 1578, he established a base in Patani with 2,000 followers, and they dominated the town for some time. Ming sources indicate that he attacked Siamese ships but was repelled in 1578, and in 1580 he again attacked Siam but also left Siam later that year. The Ming authorities tried to capture him while he continued to launch raids against Chinese ships in 1580–81. After 1581 there were no further reports of his piratical activity in Ming sources, suggesting he had retired from raiding and settled in Patani. He obtained a fief and briefly established a small port near Patani, while members of his band gained prominence in the service of Patani's ruler. According to the local lore of Patani, he married the daughter of the Sultan, converted to Islam and built a mosque. He died in Patani, said to be due to cannon fire while he was testing cannons he had made. His is believed to be buried in Kubo Bukit Cina, the oldest Chinese cemetery in Patani.
Lore and legends
In Taiwan
There are a number of myths and legends about Lin in Taiwan, although historical sources give varying accounts of his presence of Taiwan and it is not clear where he had actually stayed if indeed he was there. According to Taiwanese legends, Lin slaughtered many of the natives in Taiwan, using their blood as caulk for his ships. It was said that while anchored at Takau, Taiwan in 1563, Lin placed his treasure into eighteen and a half bamboo baskets, hiding them in the surrounding hills, and the Takau Hill then acquired an alternate name Buried-Gold Hill. Another story goes that Lin was told by a Taoist master that he would be able to conquer all of China if, after he had performed certain tasks in a hundred days, he fired three arrows towards Beijing on the dawn of the last day. The master gave him 3 magic arrows and a "divine rooster". Lin handed the rooster in the care of his sister Jin-lien. On the midnight of last day, Jin-lien inadvertently startled the rooster, causing it to crow. Lin awoke and mistakenly thought that dawn had arrived, immediately firing off three divine arrows with his name towards the imperial capital. The three arrows flew into the imperial palace, striking the dragon throne. However, as it was midnight, the throne was empty. The emperor found the three arrows with Lin's name on them stuck in his throne, realizing that Lin had attempted to kill him, then ordered his troops to attack Lin.
In Patani
The Teochew people of Thailand tell a number of stories about Lin. In one, he was said to have helped the Siamese fight off an Annam attack and was thus given the daughter of the king to marry; however, he later angered the king after making a joke about killing the king, and had to flee. Another story involves the legend of Lim Ko Niao, said to be his sister in this account. Lin Guniang tried to persuade her brother to return to China with her after finding that her brother had married a local woman, converted to Islam as well as building a mosque in Kru Se, Patani. However he refused to return, fought and defeated her, and she then committed suicide by hanging from a janggus tree. Her gravestone, located next to the Krue Se Mosque, is said to have been built by her brother. A shrine in her name exists in Patani and she is worshipped by some Chinese people in southern Thailand. According to Phongsawadan muang pattani, he attempted to cast three bronze cannons to be used in the wars of Patani. After several failures with the third and largest cannon, he offered to sacrifice himself should his attempt be successful, and was blown up while testing this cannon. A 19th century Chinese account claims that the ruler of Patani was his descendant.
Legacy
It is thought that Lin's activity in the area may have influenced the migration of Teochew people to Thailand in later years. A Dutch merchant Olivier van Noort mentioned meeting a group of traders from Patani in Brunei in 1601 and that their community in Patani was Chinese enough to have their own king and used the same laws as in China. Another Dutch report of 1603 by Jacob van Neck estimated that there may be as many Chinese in Patani as there were native Malays. Many Malays in Kru Se, Patani claim descent from Lin, although they may have been descendants of his followers who married local women.
