History of the Lanfang Republic
Asia's First Republic was a Small Chinese Settlement in Indonesia
Mar 22, 2009
In the 18th century, the island of Borneo in modern-day Indonesia was known for its large mineral deposit – mostly gold and tin. As in the United States in the mid-19th century, Chinese migrants were a ready source of labor to work in the mines. Rulers from various areas – including modern-day Indonesia and Brunei – believed Chinese to be hard-working and leased them land.
Origin of the Lanfang Republic
One such Chinese laborer was named Low Lan Pak, of the Hakka ethnic-group. Hakka (or kejia, meaning “guest family”) people had a history of migration within China and traditionally didn’t bring their wives with them on journeys. He arrived in the area of West Kalimantan in modern-day Indonesia sometime in the mid-18th century.
By the 1770s there were some 20,000 Chinese in West Kalimantan. At the time, Dutch influence in Borneo was still small and the sultans mostly kept to the coastal areas. Low Lan Pak was able to establish his own inland mining settlement (called a kongsi, or company).
After successfully offering assistance to a local sultan against a rival, Low Lan Pak found his popularity soaring at the age of 57. Other Hakka from the area began to seek his protection and Low Lan Pak established the first republic in Asia in 1777. He himself declined to be crowned sultan and instead took a presidential position. This is also considered to be the first Chinese republic.
After Low Lan Pak
Low Lan Pak passed away in 1778. The Lanfang Republic continued on under an elected presidential system. Both the president and vice president had to be of Hakka origin from several particular areas of mainland China.
The Lanfang Republic continued to have relations with the Qing Dynasty in that ruled China throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Qing records discuss the Lanfang Republic and mention that their ships did commerce in China. The Republic continued to pay the Qing Dynasty annual tribute.
The 19th century saw the Dutch encroach further and further into Indonesia, including inland West Kalimantan. In 1884 the Dutch attempted to occupy the lands of a nearby sultan and the Lanfang Republic was drawn into the conflict. After four years of fighting the Dutch were victorious and many Chinese fled to Sumatra and elsewhere. The Dutch allowed a Chinese to be the figure-head of the area for fear of offending the Qing Dynasty but for all intents and purposes, the Lanfang Republic was over.
Read more about the Lanfang Republic here.
