Lin Xiangru was a politician and general of the Warring States period, who served the state of Zhao. He figures prominently in two stories of the period, namely the episode and the namesake chengyu of "Returning the Jade to Zhao", as well as the story and the namesake chengyu of "Carrying Thorned Grass and Pleading Guilt".
Relief tracing of Lin Xiangru with the Heshibi and King of Qin on Wu Family Shrines' stone-relief, from Jinshisuo (金石索).