This paper focuses on Taiwanese architect David C.F. Lin (1913–1995), a graduate of the Department of Architecture at Waseda University. By tracing his activities around the end of WWII, the study seeks to construct a personal history of a representative Taiwanese architect while also reconsider the role of Taiwanese architects in the development of modern architecture in Taiwan. His educational background in Japan further prompts an inquiry into his interactions with Taiwanese gentry during the Japanese colonial period. The investigation of these interpersonal relationships enables the paper to anchor historical analysis in the individual, thereby advancing toward a collective reconstruction of history. The paper concludes that Lin was influenced by Waseda, particularly its emphasis on consciousness of being an architect and the pursuit of modernism. His early works reveal a negotiation between modernity and regional specificity. Lin’s background also facilitated his connection with Yang Zhao-jia (1892–1976), revealing a network of Japan-educated Taiwanese intellectuals. Combining his identity as a Taiwanese, his education in Japan, and his service under the U.S. military, alongside his relationships with local elites, Lin was able to quickly reintegrate into Taiwan’s architectural profession upon his return. In early postwar period, his efforts to organize civil associations served to consolidate the professional image of architects and build technical networks. These actions underscore Lin’s pivotal and indispensable role in the history of Taiwanese modern architecture.