Kang Keng Tjong (22 June, 1797—May 11, 1871), also spelt Kan Keng Tiong, was a Chinese-Indonesian tycoon and one of the richest men in Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies (now known as Indonesia).[1][2][3]

Born in Zhangzhou, Fujian, Qing Empire, he migrated to the East Indies in the early nineteenth century.[3] He was involved in sugar and rice trading, and became an important Landheer or landlord in the east of Batavia.[3] Among others, he owned the particuliere landen or private domains of Bekasi, Karang Tjongok, Papisangan, Gaboes and Loewong.[4][5] He was raised by the Qing imperial government to the rank of mandarin of the third rank.[3]

Kan was married three times to locally-born Peranakan Chinese women: Siauw Po Nio in 1831, Oeij Thu Nio in 1844 and Jo Heng Nio in 1848.[1][3] He died in Batavia in 1871.[3] His widow, Jo Heng Nio, founded in 1897 the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van vastigheden Jo Heng Nio en Kan Keng Tiong, a company to manage the family's vast landholdings.[6][7]

Kan's widow, Jo Heng Nio, was a niece of a Chinese officer, Jo Teng Kong, Luitenant-titulair der Chinezen; and many of Kan's children married into families of the 'Cabang Atas' gentry of colonial Indonesia.[8][3] His daughter, Kan Oe Nio, was married to Han Oen Lee, Luitenant der Chinezen of Bekasi; and another daughter, Kan Pan Nio, was married to Lie Tjoe Hong, the 3rd Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.[1] His son, Kan Tjeng Soen, was married to Khouw Tjoei Nio, daughter of Khouw Tjeng Tjoan, Luitenant-titulair der Chinezen and an older sister of Khouw Kim An, 5th Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.[1] Through his daughter, Oe Nio, he became the grandfather of Hok Hoei Kan, arguably the most important Chinese-Indonesian statesman of the late colonial period.[1][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Haryono, Steve (2017). Perkawinan Strategis: Hubungan Keluarga Antara Opsir-opsir Tionghoa Dan 'Cabang Atas' Di Jawa Pada Abad Ke-19 Dan 20. Rotterdam: Steve Haryono. ISBN 9789090302492. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  2. ^ "4. The mass grave". Chinese Indonesian Heritage Center. Chinese Indonesian Heritage Center. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Kan Keng Tjong". Kan, Han, Tan. Chinees Indische Peranakan Families. Koninklijke Bibliotheek. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Advertentie". Java-bode: nieuws, handels- en advertentieblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie. 5 June 1869. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Advertentie". Bataviaasch handelsblad. 3 July 1869. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  6. ^ "NIEUWEMAATSCHAPPIJEN EN VENNOOTSCHAPPEN". Bataviaasch nieuwsblad. 6 November 1897. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Kan Keng Tiong Exploitatie". www.colonialbusinessindonesia.nl. Leiden University. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  8. ^ Chen, Menghong (2011). De Chinese gemeenschap van Batavia, 1843-1865: een onderzoek naar het Kong Koan-archief (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 9789087281335. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  9. ^ Suryadinata, Leo (2012). Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume I & II. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9789814345217. Retrieved 19 June 2019.