Lin Yu-shan's father Lin Erh owned a framing shop called Fengya Hsuan (" The Elegant Studio "). One of Yu-shan's older brothers became a carver, and one of his younger brothers studied Western painting. Yu-shan thus grew up in a milieu that brought his natural artistic talent to the fore.
林玉山的父親林耳，經營風雅軒裝裱，二兄從事雕刻藝術，五弟研習西畫，排行第三的林玉山從小就在充滿藝術氣息的環境中長大，流露他自然天成的藝術天分。