Kapitan Cina

A portrait of a Kapitan Cina in Bangil

Kapitan Cina or Capitan China was originally a Portuguese title for the head of a Chinese enclave.^[1][2] The 15th century rulers of Southeast Asia, such as Melaka (modern day Malacca) and Banten (or Bantam), chose to deal with a single individual from each ethnic group under their rule.^[3][4] This administrative method of indirect rule was later adopted by the Portuguese when they took over Melaka in the 16th century, as well as the Dutch in the Dutch East Indies, and the English in British Malaya.^[3]

Throughout Southeast Asia, Batavia (now Jakarta) arguably boasts the longest continuous history of the institution of Kapitan Cina: see the official website of the Koang Koan Archives at Leiden University. In 1619, the Dutch appointed Souw Beng Kong, formerly Kapitan Cina of Bantam, as the first Kapitein der Chinezen of Batavia. Through Kapitein Beng Kong, then, the Batavian Captaincy succeeded the much-earlier institution of Kapitan Cina of Bantam. Batavia also produced probably Asia's only female Kapitan Cina, the so-called Nyai Bali, who was appointed officially by the VOC to her post in 1649: see Yuan Bingling, "The Last Resort" in Blussé, Leonard & Chen, Menghong, "The Archives of the Kongkoan of Batavia" (Den Haag, 2003), pp. 30–31). The Batavian Captaincy ended in 1945 with the death of Khouw Kim An, the last Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia, possibly also the last such intermediary rulers in Southeast Asia. The issue of a Luitenant, Kapitein or Majoor der Chinesen are entitled, by Peranakan custom, to the hereditary dignity of Sia.

With the end of the colonial period, the title became purely an honorary one.^[3]

Kapiteins and Majoors of Batavia (present day Jakarta)

• 1619–1644: Kapitein Souw Beng Kong, formerly Kapitan Cina of Bantam
• Kapitein Lay Soen Hie, Kapitan of Pasar Baroe, Batavia (Jakarta)
• Kapitein Lim Lak Tjo
• Kapitein Phoa Beng Gan
• Kapitein Gan Djie
• Kapitein Tjoa Hoan Giok
• Kapitein Ni Hoe Kong
• Majoor Tan Eng Goan
• Majoor Tan Tjoet Tiat
• Majoor Lie Tjian Tjoen
• Majoor Tio Tek Ho
• Majoor Khouw Kim An

Kapitans of Kuala Lumpur

Yap Ah Loy was a Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur and is considered the founder of the city. The title was abolished in 1902, when Yap Kwan Seng died.

• 1858–1861: Hiu Siew
• 1862–1868: Liu Ngim Kong
• 1868–1885: Yap Ah Loy
• 1885–1889: Yap Ah Shak
• 1889–1902: Yap Kwan Seng

Kapitans of Johor / Major China of Johor

• 1845–1857: Tan Kee Soon (Kapitan of Tebrau)
• 1859–1869: Tan Cheng Hung (Kapitan of Tebrau)
• 1869–18xx: Seah Tee Heng (Kapitan of Sekudai)
• 1870–1875: Tan Hiok Nee (Major China)
• 1xxx–1xxx: Lim Ah Siang
• 1xxx–1917: Lin Jin He

Kapitans of Kuala Terengganu

• 1736–1820 Teo Tioh Eng
• 1782–17xx Kow Geok Seng
• 1798–1847 Lim Eng Huat
• 1810–18xx Kow Teck Lee
• 18xx–18xx Low Kian Tee
• 18xx–1899 Wee Teck Siew
• 1xxx–19xx Kow Swee Leng

Kapitans of Malacca

• 1572–1617 Tay Hong Yong @ Tay Kie Ki (鄭甲）
• 1614–1688 Li Wei King @ Li Koon Chang (李為經）
• 1662–1708 Lee Chiang Hou @ Lee Chong Kian
• 1643–1718 Chan Ki Lock @ Chan Lak Kua
• 1725–1765 Chan Hian Kway @ Chan Kwang Hwee
• 1703–1784 Tan Seng Yong
• 1748–1794 Tan Ki Hou @ Tan Siang Lian
• 1750–1802 Chua Su Cheong @ Chua Tok Ping
• 1771–1882 Chan Yew Liang @ Chan Keng Sin

Kapitans of Penang

• 1787–1826 Koh Lay Huan (辜禮歡) was Kapitan China of Kedah, and appointed the first Kapitan China of Penang
• 1894–1908 Cheah Ching Hui (謝清輝）
• 1908–1918 Cheah Yong Chong (謝榮宗）

Kapitans of Perak

• 1830–18xx Tan Ah Hun (陳亞漢）
• 1875–1900 Chung Keng Quee (鄭景貴）
• 1875–1899 Chin Ah Yam @ Chin Seng Yam (陳亞炎) leader of the Ghee Hin during the Larut Wars
• 1886–1906 Khaw Boo Aun @ Khaw Ewe Kuang (許武安）
• 1930–1935 Chung Thye Phin (鄭大平) last Kapitan China of Perak and (British) Malaya

Other Kapitans China

• Tjong A Fie, Capitan China (Majoor der Chineezen) of Medan circa 1911s
• Tan Ah Hun, the first Capitan China of Perak circa 1850s, father of Tan Seng Poh and father-in-law of Seah Eu Chin^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]}
• Shing Kap, Capitan China of Sungei Ujong, and a Hai San headman^[17][18]
• Choa Mah Soo, Capitan China of Klias and Mempakul (circa 1869)^[19][20][21]
• Chua Su Cheong Capitan China of Dutch Malacca and father of Choa Chong Long^[22]
• Chan Yungqua, Capitan China of Malacca (18th century)^[23]
• Ah Poh, Capitan China of Lipis
• Seah Tye Heng, Capitan China of Sekudai, Johore^[24]
• Lieu Chin-Fu, Capitan China of Pulai was the last Capitan China of Kelantan^[25]
• Tan How Seng, Capitan China of Singapore^[26]
• Li Kap or Li Kup or Lee Wei King, Capitan China of Dutch Malacca, founder of the Cheng Hoon Teng temple there and the person who donated Bukit China for use as a Chinese burial ground^[27][28]
• Wee Sin Hee, Capitan China of Terengganu^[29]
• Tin Kap or Tay Kap, Capitan China of Portuguese Malacca, said to have been the only Capitan China appointed by the Portuguese^{[30][31][32][33][34][35]}
• Baba Seng, Capitan China of Kedah in the 1820s^[36]
• Chan Ki Lock or Chan Kup, Capitan China of Dutch Malacca circa 1704^[37]
• Khaw Boo Aun^[38]
• Dato' Chua Tuah Soon (Chinese: 蔡大孫; pinyin: Cài Dà Sūn)
• WEE, Hee Hoon (D: 17 March 1922 at 46 yrs of age, leaving a widow and seven children), Kapitan China of Bagan Si Api Api (Indonesia)^[39]
• OEY, Teng Kiang (Murdered 17 September 1924), Kapitan China of Palembang (Indonesia).^[40]
• KOH, Kim Hin (husband of Mrs Anne Tan-Koh who died at 79 yrs of age in 1966, and father of Bishop Roland Koh), Kapitan China of Sandakan (East Malaysia).^[41]
• OEI, Leong Tan, Kapitan China of Bengkalis.^[42]
• LEE, Lei Kam, Kapitan China of Perlis.^[43]
• ONG, Boon Pang, Kapitan China of Brunei.^[44]
• Tam Yong (father of towkay Tan Yee Man), Kapitan China of Seremban.^[45]
• Lee Sam, Kapitan China of Seremban.^[46]
• LIM, Ah Pat, Capitan China of Muntok was decorated by the Dutch Government in 1910.^[47]
• KHOO Cheow Teong, (Justice of the Peace and father of Khoo Sian Ewe), Kapitan China of Asaban.^[48]
• WEE, Chim Yean (Died 13 August 1926 leaving four sons and four daughters), Kapitan China of Bengkalis.^[49][50]
• KO, Kim Yeo, Kapitan China of Batavia.^[51]
• WEE, Boon Teng (Born in Singapore in 1864. Educated at Lye Fatt English School. Appointed Luitenant China of Selat Panjang on the Sumatra east coast in 1890. Promoted to Capitan China in 1915 and awarded the Dutch colonial gold medal. Promoted to Majoor in 1925 prior to his retirement), Kapitan China of Selat Panjang.^[52]

See also

• Kangchu system
• List of place names of Kangchu system origin
• Lanfang Republic
• Overseas Chinese

References

Bibliography

• Trocki, Carl A. (2007) [1979], Prince of Pirates: The Temenggongs and the Development of Johor and Singapore 1784-1885 (2nd ed.), NUS Press, p. 130, ISBN 978-9971-69-376-3 
• Hwang, In-Won (2003). Personalized Politics: The Malaysian State Under Matahtir. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 981-230-185-2
• Lohanda, Mona (1996). The Kapitan Cina of Batavia, 1837-1942. Jakarta: Djambatan. ISBN 979-428-257-X.
• Ooi, Keat Gin (2004). Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, From Angkor Wat to East Timor. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1-57607-770-5

External links

• Chinese Kapitans of Malacca