The place of origin is unknown. He held the official positions of Court Gentleman for Ceremonial Service, Director of the Palace Library, and was skilled in medical arts. In the second year of the Jiayou era (1057), the Song government established the Bureau for the Correction of Medical Texts, and Lin Dang was one of the main correctors. He first collaborated with Zhang Yu-xi and Su Song to collate and finalize the Jiayou Supplemented Shennong Bencao in 20 volumes. During the Xining era (1068–1077), he worked with Gao Baoheng, Sun Qi, Sun Zhao, and others to collate and publish important medical texts from before the Tang dynasty, including Huangdi Neijing Suwen, Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, Jingui Yuhan Jing, Maijing, Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing, Zhubing Yuanhou Lun, Qianjin Yaofang, Qianjin Yifang, and Waitai Miyao.