Lanfang Republic

Lanfang Republic 蘭芳共和國  (Chinese), 蘭芳公司  (Chinese)
1777–1884
Flag Republic's seal
Status	Tributary state of Qing China
Capital	Dong Wan Li (東萬律) (now )
Common languages	Hakka, Malay, Dayak languages
Demonym(s)	Hakka or Lánfāngrén (蘭芳人)
Government	Presidential republic Kongsi federation
President
• 1777–1795	Low Lan Pak
• 1795–1799	Jiang Wubo
• 1799–1804	Yan Sibo
• 1804–1811	Jiang Wubo
• 1811–1823	Song Chabo
• 1823–1838	Liu Taiji
• 1838–1842	Gu Liubo
• 1842–1843	Xie Guifang
• 1843–1845	Ye Tenghui
• 1845–1848	Liu Ganxing
• 1848–1876	Liu Asheng
• 1876–1880	Liu Liang
• 1880–1884	Liu Asheng
Historical era	New Imperialism
• Founding	1777
• Dutch conquest	1884
Succeeded by Dutch East Indies
Today part of	Borneo Indonesia Brunei Malaysia

Part of a series on the
History of Indonesia
Timeline
show Prehistory Java Man 1,000,000 BP Flores Man 94,000–12,000 BP Toba catastrophe 75,000 BP Buni culture 400 BCE
show Hindu and Buddhist Kingdoms Salakanagara Kingdom 130–362 Kutai Kingdom 350–1605 Tarumanagara Kingdom 358–669 Kalingga Kingdom 500s–600s Melayu Kingdom 600s Srivijaya Empire 600s–1200s Sailendra Empire 800s–900s Galuh Kingdom 669–1482 Sunda Kingdom 669–1579 Medang Empire 752–1006 Bali Kingdom 914–1908 Kahuripan Kingdom 1006–1045 Kediri Kingdom 1045–1221 Dharmasraya Kingdom 1183–1347 Pannai Kingdom 1000s–1300s Singhasari Empire 1222–1292 Majapahit Empire 1293–1500
show Islamic Sultanates Spread of Islam 800–1600 Peureulak Sultanate 840–1292 Aru Kingdom 1225–1613 Ternate Sultanate 1257–1914 Samudera Pasai Sultanate 1267–1521 Pagaruyung Kingdom 1347–1833 Brunei Sultanate 1368–1888 Malacca Sultanate 1400–1511 Sulu Sultanate 1405–1851 Cirebon Sultanate 1445–1677 Demak Sultanate 1475–1554 Aceh Sultanate 1496–1903 Banten Sultanate 1526–1813 Banjar Sultanate 1526–1863 Kalinyamat Sultanate 1527–1599 Mataram Sultanate 1500s–1700s Johor Sultanate 1528s–1877 Siak Sultanate 1725–1946 Surakarta Sunanate 1745–1946 Yogyakarta Sultanate 1755–1945 Deli Sultanate 1814–1946 Riau-Lingga Sultanate 1824–1911
show Christian Kingdoms  [id] 1399–1670  [id] 1510–1956 Larantuka Kingdom 1515–1904  [id] 1570–1942
show Chinese Kongsi federations 1776–1854 Lanfang Republic 1777–1884 Santiaogou Republic 1777–1853
show European Colonization Portuguese 1512–1850 Dutch East India Company 1602–1800 French and British interregnum 1806–1816 Dutch East Indies 1800–1942 1945–1950
show Emergence of Indonesia National Awakening 1908–1942 Japanese occupation 1942–1945 National Revolution 1945–1949 United States of Indonesia 1949–1950
show Republic of Indonesia Liberal democracy 1950–1957 Guided Democracy 1957–1966 Transition 1965–1967 New Order 1967–1998 Reform era 1998–present
show By topic Archaeology Currency Economy Military
Indonesia portal
v t

The Lanfang Republic (Chinese: 蘭芳共和國; pinyin: Lánfāng Gònghéguó, Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Làn-fông Khiung-fò-koet) also known as Lanfang Company (Chinese: 蘭芳公司; pinyin: Lánfāng gōngsī) was a Chinese kongsi federation and a tributary state of Qing China in Western Borneo. It was established by a Hakka Chinese named  [hak] in 1777 until it was ended by Dutch occupation in 1884.

Arrival of the Chinese[]

The sultans of Western Borneo, including Sambas, , and all imported Chinese laborers in the 18th century to work in gold or tin mines. A number of mining companies enjoyed some political autonomy,^[1] but Lanfang is the best known thanks to a history written by , the son-in-law of the last kapitan of the Lanfang Company, which was translated into Dutch in 1885, and J.J.M. de Groot, a Dutch Sinologist who recorded Lanfang's history with the help of its last President, .^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]} None of the other Chinese mining organization in western Kalimantan left written accounts; the records of the others were documented by Dutch sinologists.^[8]

Rule of Low Lan Pak[]

The founding father of the Lanfang Kongsi was Low Lan Pak, who hailed from Meizhou in Guangdong Province. Chinese settlers have long lived in Borneo island, with most engaging in trading and mining. They formed their own companies, among which was the Southern Company headed by Low.

As Dutch imperialism encroached upon modern-day Indonesia, Low established the Lanfang Company in 1777 (with its capital in Mandor) to protect the Chinese settlers from Dutch oppression.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]} The settlers subsequently elected Low as their inaugural leader. Low implemented many democratic principles, including the idea that all matters of state must involve the consultation of the republic's citizenry. The Republic did not have a standing military, but had a defense ministry that administered a national militia based on conscription. During peacetime, the populace mostly engaged in farming, production, trading, and mining. Lanfang's administrative divisions included three tiers (province, prefecture, and county) with the people electing leaders for all levels. Lanfang was allied with Sultan Abdurrahman of the Pontianak Sultanate.^{[15][16][17][18][19]}

Map of Kongsi republics in West Borneo

Although Low discarded the ancient institutions of monarchism and dynastic succession, he continued to adhere to many Chinese traditions that carried along to Borneo. For example, he established the founding year of the republic as the first year of the calendar. Moreover, he submitted a report to the Chinese emperor notifying him about the Republic's founding and paid tribute to the Chinese Qing Empire.^{[citation needed]}

Low served as head of state until his death in 1795. Afterwards, Lanfang members elected Jiang Wubo (江戊伯) as their next president. Lanfang citizens elected a total of twelve leaders, who helped improve agricultural techniques, expand mine production, develop cultural education, and organize military training.

Dutch conquest[]

In the mid-to-late 19th century, the Chinese Qing Empire weakened substantially. Thus, the Lanfang Company's vigorous development suffered from the eventual expansion of the Dutch. The Mandor community waged a tenacious resistance, but ultimately failed due to poor weaponry. Lin Ah Sin was the last leader of Lanfang.^[20] Many of Lanfang's citizens and their descendants made their way to Sumatra or Singapore. The three campaigns waged by the Dutch East Indies Army against the Lanfang Company:

• Expedition to the West Coast of Borneo (1822–24)
• Expedition against the Chinese in Montrado (1850–54)
• Chinese uprising in Mandor, Borneo (1884–85)

This last one resulted in the subjugation of the Chinese and the loss of autonomy.

Wary of Qing intervention, the Dutch did not openly annex the lands controlled by the Lanfang Company, and created another puppet regime. It was not until 1912, when the Qing Dynasty collapsed, that the Dutch proclaimed their occupation.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

Citations[]

Sources[]

• Blussé, Léonard; Zurndorfer, Harriet Thelma; Zürcher, Erik Jan, eds. (1993). Conflict and Accommodation in Early Modern East Asia: Essays in Honour of Erik Zürcher. Volume 29 of Sinica Leidensia (illustrated ed.). BRILL. ISBN 9004097759. Retrieved 24 April 2014. |volume= has extra text (help)
• Chin, John M. (1981). The Sarawak Chinese (illustrated ed.). Oxford University Press, Incorporated. ISBN 0195804708. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Gakuen, Seijō (1967). Uchida, Naosaku; Ikeda, Kōtarō (eds.). Social and economic aspects of Japan: Seijo Gakuen jubilee year, 1917-1967. Economic Institute of Seijo University. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Gerber, James; Guang, Lei, eds. (2006). Agriculture and Rural Connections in the Pacific, 1500-1900. Volume 13 of The Pacific World: Lands, Peoples And History of the Pacific, 1500–1900 (illustrated ed.). Ashgate/Variorum. ISBN 0754639789. Retrieved 24 April 2014. |volume= has extra text (help)
• Gernet, Jacques (1996). A History of Chinese Civilization (illustrated, reprint, revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521497817. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Heidhues, Mary F. Somers (2003). Golddiggers, Farmers, and Traders in the "Chinese Districts" of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Volume 34 of Southeast Asia publications series (illustrated ed.). SEAP Publications. ISBN 0877277338. Retrieved 10 March 2014. |volume= has extra text (help)
• Irwin, Graham (1955). Nineteenth-century Borneo: A Study in Diplomatic Rivalry. Part 15 of Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. M. Nijhoff. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
• Lindsey, Timothy; Pausacker, Helen; Coppel, Charles A. (2005). Lindsey, Timothy; Pausacker, Helen; Coppel, Charles A. (eds.). Chinese Indonesians: remembering, distorting, forgetting (illustrated ed.). Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9812302867.
• Luo, Xianglin; Luo, Fangbo (1941). Luo Fangbo suo jian Boluozhou Kundian Lanfang da zong zhi kao (illustrated ed.). Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• 羅, 香林 (1961). 西婆羅洲羅芳伯等所建共和國考. 中國學社. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Museum für Völkerkunde zu Leipzig (1997). Jahrbuch des Museums für Völkerkunde zu Leipzig, Volume 41. Lit-Verlag. ISBN 3825834328. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Oelschlägel, Anett C.; Nentwig, Ingo; Taube, Jakob, eds. (2005). "Roter Altai, gib dein Echo!": Festschrift für Erika Taube zum 65. Geburtstag (in German). Contributor: Erika Taube. Leipziger Universitätsverlag. ISBN 3865830625. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
• Reece, Bob; Persatuan Kesusasteraan Sarawak (1993). Datu Bandar Abang Hj. Mustapha of Sarawak: some reflections of his life and times. Sarawak Literary Society. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Reid, Anthony; Alilunas-Rodgers, Kristine, eds. (1996). Sojourners and Settlers: Histories of Southeast China and the Chinese (illustrated, reprint ed.). University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824824466. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Reid, Anthony (2008). Reid, Anthony (ed.). The Chinese Diaspora in the Pacific. Volume 16 of The Pacific World Lands, Peoples and History of the Pacific, 1500–1900. Ashgate. ISBN 978-0754657491. Retrieved 24 April 2014. |volume= has extra text (help)
• Yong, Paul (1994). A dream of freedom: the early Sarawak Chinese (2, illustrated ed.). Pelanduk Publications. ISBN 9679783774. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• YUNOS, ROZAN (May 23, 2011). "Saga of Lanfang Republic". THE BRUNEI TIMES. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Setyautama, Sam; Mihardja, Suma (2008). Tokoh-tokoh etnis Tionghoa di Indonesia (in Malay). Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia. ISBN 978-9799101259. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Suryadinata, Leo, ed. (1997). Political Thinking of the Indonesian Chinese: 1900-1977; a Sourcebook. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9789971692018. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Wang, Tai Peng (1994). The origins of Chinese kongsi. Pelanduk Publications. ISBN 9679784495. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
• Zhang, Delai (2002). The Hakkas of Sabah: A Survey of Their Impact on the Modernization of the Bornean Malaysian State. Sabah Theological Seminary. ISBN 9834084005. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
• Zheng, Dekun (1982). Studies in Chinese Archaeology. Volume 3 of Centre for Chinese Archaeology and Art Hong Kong: Studies series. Chinese University Press. ISBN 9622012612. Retrieved 10 March 2014. |volume= has extra text (help)
• Zheng, Dekun (1969). Archaeology in Sarawak (illustrated ed.). Heffer. ISBN 0852700113. Archived from the original on Jul 20, 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
• "The Eurozone as a Lan Fang Republic". Manifesta Journal. 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• The Sarawak Museum Journal. Volume 9 of The Sarawak Museum Journal: For the Promotion of Scientific Knowledge and Study of the Natives and Natural History of the Island of Borneo, Sarawak Museum. Contributor: Sarawak Museum. Sarawak Museum. 1959. Retrieved 24 April 2014. |volume= has extra text (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
• The Sarawak Museum Journal, Volume 19. Sarawak Museum (Contributor). Sarawak Museum. 1971. Retrieved 24 April 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)
• Contributor: Royal Numismatic Society (Great Britain) (1993). The Numismatic Chronicle, Volume 153. Royal Numismatic Society. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Excerpta Indonesica, Issues 58-62. Contributors: Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde (Netherlands). Afdeling Documentatie Modern Indonesie, Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde (Netherlands). Bibliotheek. Centre for Documentation of Modern Indonesia, Royal Institute of Linguistics and Anthropology. 1998. Retrieved 24 April 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)
• Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens, Volume 75; Volume 77c. Contributors: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens, Tokyo. 1979. Retrieved 24 April 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)
• China Today, Volume 6. Contributors: China Today Society, Taiwan, Taipei (City). Institute for Chinese Culture, Institute of Chinese Culture, T'ai-pei, Institute for Advanced Chinese studies, Chung-kuo wen hua hsüeh yüan. Chung-Kuo wen hua yen chiu so, Chinese Translation Society, Chung-Kuo wen hua yen chiu so, Tai pei, United Publishing Center, Inc, Chinese Institute of Translation and Research. Institute of Chinese Culture. 1963. Retrieved 24 April 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)
• Revue bibliographique de sinologie, Volumes 6-7 (in French). Contributors: Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales, Ecole pratique des hautes études (France). Section des sciences économiques et sociales, École pratique des hautes études (France). Section des sciences historiques et philologiques. Editions de l'Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales. 1988. Retrieved 24 April 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)
• Taiwan guang Hua za zhi, Volume 33, Issues 7-12. 光華畫報雜誌社. 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Tempo: Indonesia's Weekly News Magazine, Volume 4, Issues 43-52. Arsa Raya Perdana. 2004. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
• Heidhues, Mary Somers (2001), "Chinese Settlements in Rural Southeast Asia: Unwritten Histories", in Anthony Reid (ed.), Sojourners and Settlers: Histories of Southeast Asia and the Chinese, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

See also[]

Kengwei Republic

External links[]

• Info at Asiawind.com