Lin Whei-yin's Daughter Liang Zaibing: Eternal Memories of a Postpartum Moment

In the spring of 1929, Lin Huiyin held her newborn daughter, Liang Zaibing, still recovering physically. At that moment, her husband, Liang Sicheng, raised his camera and pressed the shutter repeatedly, capturing images of his wife and new baby. Three years later, when Lin Huiyin gave birth to their son, Liang Congjie, Liang Sicheng once again took the same action. Behind these seemingly ordinary recordings lies their shared reverence for life—Lin Huiyin believed that childbirth was a crucial moment for women to transition from girlhood to motherhood, worth preserving forever with a camera as a vivid mark of life. Liang Sicheng always supported his wife’s idea wholeheartedly. Those yellowed photos later became their most treasured family keepsake.

Meeting through Books, Falling in Love Abroad

The story of Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng begins with a deep connection between two prominent families. Lin Huiyin was born in 1904 into a scholarly family in Hangzhou; her father, Lin Changmin, had close ties with Liang Sicheng’s father, Liang Qichao. As children, they knew each other from a young age. Arranged by their elders and introduced through Liang Qichao, they read together at Songpo Library—enhancing their knowledge and deepening their understanding. Later, they both went to study in the United States.

Initially planning to study architecture, Lin Huiyin changed to art because her school did not admit female students. However, her determination remained unchanged—she actively enrolled in architecture courses and immersed herself in the theories of ancient buildings alongside Liang Sicheng. In 1925, her father, Lin Changmin, tragically died in a plane crash. During her darkest time, Liang Sicheng’s presence and support helped her find her way out of despair. Three years later, in 1928, they married in Canada and traveled through Europe, exploring the secrets of ancient architecture. After returning to China, Liang Sicheng founded the Department of Architecture at Northeast University, laying the foundation for modern architectural education in China.

Tracing Ancient Buildings, Exploring Famous Mountains and Rivers

Back in China, Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng joined the China Engineering Society, embarking on numerous exploration trips. Their footprints covered the entire country— in 1932, they investigated the Dule Temple in Jizhou, Hebei; in 1933, they visited the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi; in 1937, they discovered Tang-era inscriptions at Foguang Temple on Mount Wutai. This discovery overturned the long-held Japanese scholarly claim that there were no Tang wooden structures in China, marking a significant milestone in Chinese architectural history.

After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the scholar couple did not stop. They moved south with their two children—daughter Liang Zaibing and son Liang Congjie—to Kunming, Lijiang, and other places. Despite extremely harsh living conditions and Lin Huiyin’s recurrent lung illness, they persisted in researching and documenting ancient architecture. During those difficult days, Liang Sicheng’s companionship and Lin Huiyin’s resilience supported each other, allowing them to continue their pursuit of truth amid the chaos of war.

Holding Firm Amid War, Shining in National Reconstruction

After the victory of the war, Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng returned to Beijing and dedicated themselves to teaching at Tsinghua University’s Department of Architecture. After the founding of New China, despite her illness, Lin Huiyin participated in major national design projects—she proposed key elements such as jade disks and five-star symbols for the national emblem, which were ultimately adopted as symbols of the nation. She also contributed to the design of the Monument to the People’s Heroes’ relief sculptures and promoted the modern transformation of traditional Jingtailan (cinnabar and blue glaze) crafts, bringing ancient arts back to contemporary artistic stages.

In 1955, Lin Huiyin passed away from tuberculosis at age 51. Liang Sicheng personally designed her tombstone, carving her floral wreath motif into the stone—this eternal bloom symbolized his deep love and respect for her. Seventeen years later, Liang Sicheng also passed away.

Imprints of Life, Guardians of Culture

Throughout her life, Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng pioneered the exploration of ancient Chinese architecture, laying an indelible foundation for cultural heritage preservation and research. Those postpartum photos record her full life—from mother to scholar, designer, and cultural guardian. In these images, we see not only her relentless pursuit of beauty but also the profound love between the couple. They used knowledge to explore history, design to serve the nation, and love to accompany each other through every season— the birth of Liang Zaibing and Liang Congjie was not only a continuation of family but also a symbol of vitality and hope. Those yellowed photos have long become the warmest, most eternal marks of time.