"Yiying qingqing (or “darling”,
“habibi’), I am writing this letter to bid you farewell. As I am
writing this, I am still counted among the living; however, as you
soon read it, I will have passed through the “gates of Hades”.
Tears are mixing with ink as my pen moves across the page. I don’t
know if I’ll have enough strength in me to finish (this letter).
But I dare not abandon it for fear that you may misjudge my heart,
and think that I have “forsaken” you (needlessly) to die (for a
cause). …
The ancients say: the “kind and
compassionate” respect their elders, and (because of this) a
respect is extended to the elders of others; they cherish their own
young, and thereby cherish everybody’s young. On the very account
of my love for you, I now wish to sacrifice my self to give
"everyone" a chance to love whom they love. Because of this, I dare
to give up my life and go before you …I love you with all my heart
- and it is this love that compels me to grow the courage to face
certain death..."
- Lin
Jueh-Min (1887-1911). Educated in Japan, and deeply
influenced by the revolutionary ideas which embrace democracy,
freedom and equality, he returned to join Tongmenhui and
fought ferociously alongside with other comrades,
that culminated in his martyr’s death, which famously
came to be known as the '72 Martyrs Huanghuagang'. He left a famous
letter to his wife at the time of her pregnancy - <與妻訣別書>. He is better known
as林觉民, and was only 24
years old.
