Kimlau Square in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lin Ze Xu
1785 - 1850
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, November 1, 2008
1. Lin Ze Xu Marker
Erected 1999 by Lin Zexu Foundation of U.S.A.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • Wars, Non-US.
Location. 40° 42.804′ N, 73° 59.889′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Kimlau Square. Memorial is at the intersection of Chatham Square and St. James Place, on the right when traveling east on Chatham Square. The memorial stands in "Kimlau Square" which is at the west end of East Broadway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23 Chatham Square, New York NY 10038, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Americans of Chinese Ancestry (a few steps from this marker); Kimlau Square (a few steps from this marker); The First Jewish Cemetery in the United States (within shouting distance of this marker); First Shearith Israel Cemetery (within shouting distance
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Lin Zexu. A formidable bureaucrat known for his competence and high moral standards, Lin was sent to Guangdong as imperial commissioner by the Daoguang Emperor in late 1838 to halt the illegal importation of opium from the British. He arrived in March 1839 and made a huge impact on the opium trade within a matter of months. He arrested more than 1,700 Chinese opium dealers and confiscated over 70,000 opium pipes. He initially attempted to get foreign companies to forfeit their opium stores in exchange for tea, but this ultimately failed and Lin resorted to using force in the western merchants' enclave. It took Lin a month and a half before the merchants gave up nearly 1.2 million kilograms (2.6 million pounds) of opium. 500 workers laboured for 22 days in order to destroy all of it, mixing the opium with lime
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, November 1, 2008
2. Lin Ze Xu Marker
He was a patriot of ability who attained an international reputation as "Commissioner Lin." He was opposed to the opening of the country but felt the need of a better knowledge of foreigners, which drove him to collect much material for a geography of the world. He later gave this material to Wei Yuan, who published an Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms in 1844.
June 3, the day when Lin confiscated the crates of opium, is celebrated as Anti-Smoking Day in the Republic of China in Taiwan. Manhattan's Chatham Square, in Chinatown, contains a statue of Lin, commemorating his early struggle against drug use. Although he has in essence led the war against the debilitating drug with some initial success, with the arrest of 1,700 opium dealers and destruction of 2.6 million pounds of opium, he had been made the scapegoat for the actions leading to British retaliation, and ultimately failing to stem the tide of opium import and use in China. Nevertheless, Lin Zexu is popularly viewed as a hero of superlative conduct and national service, and whose likeness have been immortalized at various locations around the world. (Submitted on November 3, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
from Wikipedia, 1843
3. Lin Ze Xu
2. Opium Wars. (Submitted on November 24, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
3. Kimlau Square / Lin Ze Xu. Official NYC Parks description. (Submitted on April 11, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords. China; Chinatown, New York City; Opium Wars, Kimlau Square.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,346 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on June 21, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 3, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 3. submitted on April 11, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
