本文主旨在探討清季臺灣外患、建省後新政，與下厝、頂厝兩房霧峰林家之發展的關係。 1884—85年中法北臺之役時，法軍入侵並封鎖臺灣，清廷與臺灣當局號召紳民募勇捐資抗法，官府危機即臺紳良機，霧峰林家積極回應。下厝林朝祿、頂厝林文欽分別支援劉銘傳與劉璈，也因此捲入湘、准之爭，影響清末兩房之族運。 戰後，清廷益感臺灣之戰略重要性與地理孤立性，乃在光緒十一年（1885）下詔建省。首任巡撫劉銘傳積極推動新政，以帝國模範省為建設臺灣之目標。然而新政之推行並非易事，官府財力、人力不足，社會、政治阻力亦大，劉氏為突破障礙，破格重用本地紳商，霧峰林家備受青睞。 在此之前，霧峰林家因林文明命案，與官僚系統的關係處於緊張狀態，此後完全改觀，雙方相互依賴，結成官紳共利體。其中，下厝林家在林朝棟領導下，支持臺政新領袖劉銘傳而受重用，因而重振家勢，成為臺灣僅次於板橋林家之第二大財閥。他也任職統領，發揚林家之武人根性之傳統，建立不少戰功，影響所及，其子祖密， 及孫正熊、正傳、正亨均擔任軍職。此外，下厝林家逐漸脫去豪強色彩，蛻變為忠誠型仕紳。因此，1895年臺灣割日後，林朝棟回歸大陸，繼續效忠清廷，但也伏下日後下厝衰落之機。 反之，頂厝林文欽因支持劉璈而在戰後被制裁壓抑，頗不得志。因此，他韜光養晦， 安於鄉紳身份，孝親教子，樂善好施。更重要的是，他逐漸棄武就文，於光緒十九年中舉，成為文教型領袖，為林家開創另一條大道。在日治時期，其子林獻堂崛起為臺灣社會領袖，頂厝林家也取代下厝林家而為霧峰林家之代表，並成為對抗殖民統治之大本營。

　　　　　During the Sino-French War of 1884-85, in response to the French assault on, and blockade of, Taiwan, the Ch'ing court, together with the local authorities in Taiwan, put out a call to both the Taiwanese gentry and common people for volunteers and contributions to the war effort. Sensing an opportunity in the government's crisis, local elites, such as the Lin clan of Wu-feng, responded enthusiastically. Lin Ch'ao-tung, of the " lower house," and Lin Wen-ch'in, of the "upper house," offered their support to Liu Ming-ch'uan and Liu Ao, respectively, and thus became embroiled in the conflict between the Huai and Hsiang armies, thereby altering the destiny of their two houses. Following the end of the war in 1885, the Ch'ing government, in recognition of the strategic importance and geographic isolation of Taiwan, established the island as an independent province. As the island's first governor, Liu Ming-ch'uan actively promoted new policies aimed at developing Taiwan as an "imperial" province in the European fashion. In an effort to overcome the numerous obstacles he encountered in the implementation of these policies, Liu relied on the assistance of the local gentry and merchant classes. For this reason, the Lin clan of Wu-feng earned official favor as an important advocate in the promotion of government policy. Previously, the Wu-feng Lins had, on account of the Lin Wen-ming murder case, maintained an uneasy relationship with the official bureaucracy. The war completely altered the situation, with the two sides establishing a network of mutual cooperation and reliance. The Lins of the lower house, under the leadership of Lin Ch'ao-tung, supported the new governor, earned his confidence, and thereby accumulated substantial power and influence. Within a short time, they were among the wealthiest families in Taiwan, second only to the Lins of Pan-ch'iao. When Taiwan passed into the hands of the Japanese in 1895, Lin Ch'ao-tung returned to the mainland and remained loyal to the Ch'ing court. Nevertheless, his departure spelled the beginning of the decline for his branch of the clan. By contrast, the "upper house" of Lin Wen-ch'in, on account of the support that Lin showed for Liu Ao, was chastened and suppressed after the war, and failed to achieve prominence during the reign of Liu Ming-ch'uan. Accordingly, Lin bid his time and remained at peace in his role as a country gentleman, an upholder of Confucian propriety and benefactor of the local community. More importantly, he gradually relinquished his military status and pursued literary training, eventually passing the civil service exams in 1891 and becoming a literati leader, an achievement which opened up a new direction for his branch of the Lin clan. During the Japanese period, his son Lin Hsien-t'ang rose to become a leading figure in Taiwanese society, while on a broader level the Lins of the upper house replaced those of the lower house as the representatives of the Wu-feng Lin clan and established themselves as a major force in the resistance against Japanese control.