Lin Fang, with unknown birth and death years, had the surname Lin, given name Fang, and courtesy name Ziqiu, and was a native of the State of Lu. He was renowned for his knowledge of Li (Propriety) and is traditionally considered one of Confucius's seventy-two worthy disciples, a favored student of Confucius. The Analects mentions him twice, both in Book Three (Ba Yi): "Lin Fang asked about the foundation of Li (Propriety). The Master said, 'A great question! In Li (Propriety), it is better to be frugal than extravagant; in mourning, it is better to be sorrowful than meticulous.'" And, "The Ji family was about to sacrifice to Mount Tai. The Master said to Ran You (a disciple of Confucius), 'Can you not stop them?' He replied, 'I cannot.' The Master said, 'Alas! Do you think Mount Tai is less discerning than Lin Fang?'" In the Han Dynasty, Wenweng's "Hall of Rites Chart" included his name and portrait, leading Qing scholar Zhu Yizun to supplement him as a disciple of Confucius.
Before becoming a disciple of Confucius, he already had some understanding of Li (Propriety). He thought: "Ordinary people focus on the trivial formalities of ritual—is this the true essence of Li?" So he took this question to Confucius. Confucius praised it as "a great question" and told him with satisfaction: "In matters of Li, it is better to be frugal than extravagant. In funeral rites, it is better to express genuine grief than to focus on external formalities." During the reign of King Jing of Zhou, he served as a grand official of the State of Lu and was appointed Grand Tutor. After his death, he was buried together with his wife, Lady Yu, in the area of Dongyan Mountain in present-day Kaifeng, Henan Province.