Introduction
Lim Lian Geok (Lin Lianyu in Mandarin) or known as Lin Caiju, was born on 19 August, 1901 in Xi Chang village, Yongchun (Eng Choon in Hokkien) prefecture, Fujian province, China.Born in a large family with other 4 brothers and 3 sisters, he was ranked second among the male children. As his elder brother died young, he thus filled into the shoes of being the oldest son in the family with heavy responsibility. At the age of six, Lim Lian Geok was enrolled in a local traditional private school- sishu. At the age of 7, he also learned from his grandfather popular Confucian works such as Trimetrical Classics (San Zijing,) and the Four Books including The Great Learning (Daxue), The Mean (Zhongyong) and Analects (Lunyu).In 1916 at the age of 15, he left home for port Xiamen (Amoy) where he worked as an apprentice. Combined work with self-learning, he managed to by-pass normal modern schooling and got into Jimei (Chi Mei) Normal College, a renowned modern educational institution founded by Tan Kah Kee, in Jimei village, Tong An prefecture near Xiamen. He was trained to be a teacher specialising in history and Chinese language. After 4 years study, he graduated with distinction.
Full article: Lim Lian Geok Soul of the Malaysian Chinese, Edited by Kua Kia Soong.
Another smililar topic can be found on:The Chinese in Southeast Asia and Beyond
