Lin Shen (politician)

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Lin Shen (林慎), also known as Mu En, was a Taiwanese politician and one of the first women elected to Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan in 1948. Born October 1908 in Taihoku Prefecture, Taiwan, then under Japanese rule, she died on 28 October 1992.

She studied at Hwa Nan College in Fuzhou (graduating in 1930), then biology at Yenching University and sociology at Xiamen University, where she earned a BA. She also attended the research institute of Columbia University. Lin worked in Shanghai and Nanjing, serving as secretary of the Young Women’s Christian Association in both cities, and she chaired the Shanghai Taiwan Women’s Association.

Returning to Taiwan in 1946, she became research director of the Women’s Campaign Committee and led several women’s groups, including the Chinese Women’s Anti-Communist Federation and the Taiwan Association for the Advancement of Social Undertakings; she also served on the local Red Cross.

A Kuomintang member, she ran in the 1948 Legislative Yuan election. Taiwan elected eight members; Lin finished seventh in votes, but one seat was reserved for a woman and counted separately. Another female candidate, Hsieh Er, had more votes than Lin, so Lin’s seat was initially disputed. Lin challenged the result in court and was ultimately declared elected. She served in the Legislative Yuan until the 87th session in 1991 and died in October 1992.