Cui Lin 崔林

Cui Lin 崔林 (d. 244), courtesy name Deru 德儒, was a high official of the Wei dynasty 曹魏 (220-265) during the Three Kingdoms period 三國 (220-280).

He hailed from Wucheng 武城 in the commandery of Hedong 河東 (today in Hebei) and was somewhat backward, so that no one spoke anything good of him. When the warlord Cao Cao 曹操 recruited troops, Cui Lin joined an infantry unit, but then became recorder (zhubu 主簿) in the provincial administration of Jizhou 冀州 (approx. modern Shanxi).

When Cao Cao was bestowed the title of king of Wei, Cui Lin was appointed palace aide to the Censor-in-chief (yushi zhongcheng 御史中丞). Emperor Wen 魏文帝 (r. 220-226) of the Wei dynasty made him secretarial court gentleman (shangshu 尚書), then regional inspector (cishi) of Youzhou 幽州 (around modern Beijing), yet because he did not serve well his superiors, was demoted to the position of governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Hexian 河間. Later on he rose to the post of Chamberlain for Dependencies (dahonglu 大鴻臚).

Emperor Ming 魏明帝 (r. 226－239 CE) granted him the title of a Marquis within the Passes (guanneihou 關內侯) and appointed him Chamberlain for attendants (guangluxun 光祿勳), then metropolitan commander (sili xiaowei 司隸校尉). He was a strict administrator and enforced the dismission of all unjust and corrupt officials in his jurisdiction. In 239 he was made Minister of Works (sikong 司空) and granted the title of Neighbourhood Marquis of Anyang 安陽亭侯, and was soon promoted to Township Marquis (xianghou 鄉侯). His posthumous title was Marqis Xiao 安陽孝侯.