The Lin Family Massacre occurred on 28 February 1980 when Lin Yi-hsiung was still incarcerated after the Kaohsiung Incident. As a result, he lost his mother Lim You A-mei and his wife Fang Sumin and their twin daughters Liang-chun and Ting-chun.

In their memory and to express love for the island of Taiwan, Lin and his wife established the Chilin Foundation 11 years later, setting up the Democratic Movement Museum in their old residence. They later founded the Chilin Memorial Hall, the Taiwan Social Movement Archives, Taiwan Democratic Movement Museum, Chilin Art Gallery慈林藝術館, and the 慈林書畫館 where lectures, concerts, camping activities, political seminars are held in the hope of healing damage experienced in Taiwan’s history and to celebrate as the country becomes increasingly democratic and peaceful.