Zheng Chenggong’s Legacy and the Friendship Cities Linked to Him
Zheng Chenggong was born in July 14, 1624, to Zheng Zhilong, who was a Chinese sea merchant based in Hirado, and Tagawa Matsu. His childhood name was Fukumatsu and his Chinese name was Zheng Sen. He traveled abroad at the very young age of 7 and was granted the imperial surname of the Ming dynasty “Shu” when he was 21, and the title of “Koxinga (man given an honorable name from the government).” Later, in battle against the Qing armies, his father Zhilong surrendered to the Qing. Zheng Chenggong became committed to the rebellion against the Qing dynasty and,despite disadvantageous battles, advanced into Taiwan and successfully expelled the Dutch who had occupied the land. Zheng Chenggong then established a government and the legal system in Taiwan, developed the country and attempted to regain his fortune. When he seemed to have risen to the peak of his political career, he died from illness in 1662 at the age of 39.
Traces of Zheng Chenggong
Born in 1624 in Hirado, Zheng Chenggong traveled to his father Zhilong’s homeland Nanan, Fujian Province in China when he was 7 years old. He renamed himself Sen, became a student of Nanan Prefectural School and learned the teachings of Confucius. In 1644, he attended the Guozijian Imperial University in Nanking, and later received the imperial name of the Ming dynasty “Shu” and the title “Koxinga”. When the Qing started to gain power and the King of Ming was in danger, he promised to defeat the Qing, restore the Ming and organized a rebel movement based in Xiamen, Quemoy. However, after the Ming dynasty lost the battle of Nanking, the Qing gradually strengthened their forces which led Zheng Chenggong to transfer the headquarters of his troops to Taiwan, to wait for a chance to strike.
Hirado Foreign Affairs Timeline
| 1542 | Wang Zhi, a sea merchant of Ming, made Hirado the base of his trading activity. |
|---|---|
| 1543 | The Portuguese introduced guns to Tanegashima Island. |
| 1550 | The Portuguese called at Hirado for the first time. (Trade with Portuguese began) |
| 1565 | Trade with the Portuguese moved to Fukuda Port in the Omura Domain. |
| 1584 | The Spanish called at Hirado for the first time. |
| 1600 | The Dutch trade ship ‘De Liefde’washed ashore in the Bungo Area. |
| 1609 | The Dutch called at Hirado. (A trading house for the Dutch was established in Hirado and the trade with the Netherlands began.) |
| 1613 | The English called at Hirado. (A trading house for the English was established in Hirado and the trade with England began.) |
| 1623 | The English trade house was shut down. |
| 1639 | The Portuguese were forbidden to enter Japan |
| 1641 | The Dutch trading house was shut down and moved to Nagasaki. |
Zheng Chenggong Biographical Timeline
| 1622 | His father, Zheng Zhilong, settled in Kawachiura, Hirado. |
|---|---|
| 1624 | Zheng Chenggong was born as Fukumatsu on July 14th (by the old calendar). |
| 1630 | Fukumatsu moved to China (Ming) and was given a Chinese name (Zheng Sen). |
| 1638 | Became a student in Nanan. Worshipped Confucius and received Confucian uniform. |
| 1644 | Entered Guozijian Imperial University in Nanking. Renamed himself ‘Damu’. |
| 1645 | Met the King of Ming and received the imperial name of the Ming dynasty “Shu” and the title “Koxinga”. His mother moved from Japan to Quanzhou. |
| 1646 | When Qing attacked Ming and Quanzhou Castle fell, his mother Tagawa committed suicide while inside the castle. Zheng Chenggong became Shouto Taishogun (major general) and swore to defeat the Qing and restore the Ming. |
| 1648 | Asked Japan to send reinforcements to the Ming dynasty. (in total 4 times including 1651, 1658 and 1660.) |
| 1650 | Occupied Quemoy and Xiamen and aimed to expand his force. |
| 1661 | Zheng Chenggong wins a battle against the Dutch, who were occupying Taiwan. Afterwards, a base in Taiwan is set up, the government is established, legislation is implemented the land is improved and people are nurtured and educated. |
| 1662 | Died from disease in Taiwan on May 8th (the old calendar) when he was 39 years old. |
| 1683 | Ming falls to the Qing. Three generations of Zheng end. |
Zheng Chenggong’s Legacy and the Friendship Cities Linked to Him
Nanan in China
Nanan is located in the southeastern Fujian Province of China. The population is 1,480,000 and the total area is 2,036 square kilometers. It is the city where Zheng Chenggong spent his youth and is also considered the hometown of the Overseas Chinese. It became a county in the 3rd year of Yong’an in the Eastern Wu period of the Three Kingdoms(260AD), and in 1993, it was upgraded from a county to a city. Nanan City considered the historical tie with Hirado through Zheng Chenggong as important, and aimed for friendly exchanges and stimulation of economic trade. As a result, a friendship-city relationship was established with Hirado on October 20th, 1995.
Xiamen in China
Xiamen is located in the southeastern Fujian Province of China, at the mouth of the Jiulong River and facing Taiwan. It is famous as a harbor city and for the scenic coastal views. The total population is 3,500,000, and about 1,900,000 people live in the city of Xiamen Island. Its total area is 1,600 square kilometers, with Xiamen Island covering about 130 square kilometers. Four bridges and one undersea tunnel connect Xiamen Island with the mainland. From the late Ming dynasty to the early Qing dynasty, Zheng Chenggong set up a military base in Xiamen. On Gulangyu island, which is just a 3-minuite boatride from Xiamen, there is a statue of Zheng Chenggong.
Tainan City in Taiwan
Tainan City is located in the southwest of Taiwan, bordered to the north by Chiayi County and to the south by Kaohsiung City. On December 25, 2010, Tainan City merged with Tainan County and was upgraded to a special municipality. After this elevation, its area became 2,192 square kilometers, with a population of over 1.87 million. Tainan has been a pivotal point in Taiwan’s modern history, serving as the administrative center for 264 years, from the Dutch colonial period in 1624 through the era of Zheng Chenggong, until the end of the rule of the Qing dynasty in 1887.
Hirado City and Tainan City signed a “Friendship Exchange Agreement” on April 29, 2024, aimed at promoting exchanges in the fields of culture, education, and sports.
Quemoy Prefecture in Taiwan
The area consists of twelve islands, including Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, Dadan Island and Erdan Island. It is 150 square kilometers in area. It was once the base for Zheng Chenggong’s resistance against the Qing and his efforts to restore the Ming.
Events Related to Zheng Chenggong
The Zheng Chenggong Festival
The “Zheng Chenggong Festival” is held on July 14, the birthday of Zheng Chenggong. On this day, presentations such as “Hirado Jangara,” a nationally designated important intangible folk cultural asset of Hirado City, are performed, making it a grand celebration.
The Mazu Festival
The statue of Mazu is housed at the Zheng Chenggong Memorial Museum. It is said that Zheng Chenggong’s father dedicated this statue to celebrate the birth of his child. Mazu is worshiped as a guardian goddess of navigation and fishing. The Mazu Festival is held every year to pray for family safety, an abundant harvest and the well-being of nature.
