Zheng Xinfu, hereinafter refer to as Xinfu Gong was born in 1263 during the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1278, he fled with his mother from Fujian to Zhangzhou to escape the Yuan invasion. Unable to continue to Guangdong, they lived in hardship until his death in 1332. His son, Dongli Gong, moved to Chaozhou in 1333, becoming the first ancestor to settle there. However, he took Xingfu Gong’s ancestral tablet to the village to be recognised as the first ancestor. Dongli Gong had three sons: Nanxuan, Nanhu, and Nansou. During the Yuan Dynasty’s decline, Nanxuan joined the army in place of his younger brother Nansou and was never heard from again. His son, Nanyin, had six sons, whose descendants formed six ancestral lineages in the village. By 2003, the fifth lineage had the largest number of descendants, making up about 70% of the village population. It was not clear on the lineages of the other brothers, Nanhu and Nansou. However, in 1675, a chance encounter in Nanjing revealed that Nanxuan’s descendants had settled there. For the complete story, download the Kunjiang magazine in the archive section.

For many years, Singapore served as a crucial stopover for numerous Chinese vessels heading south to Nanyang due to its strategic location. This made the city a natural hub for gathering and networking among emigrants from Kunjiang, leading to a significant Kunjiang community in Singapore. In the early days, particularly before the Second Sino-Japanese War, these migrants settled in various parts of Singapore, often relying on the support of friends and relatives. Many found a sense of community at Zhenfahou (Chop Chin Huat 5), a shop established by Zheng Ligeng and his fellow villagers from Kunjiang. This establishment became a vital meeting point for the diaspora. When the war ended, Zheng Ligeng decided to return to China. Following the war, his cousin, Zheng Yiqing (Tay Aik Kheng), revived the business under the name Chop Chin Huat Fishing Tackle, located on Beach Road in Singapore. He also repurposed Zhenfahou (Chop Chin Huat) as a central hub to organize and support newly arrived migrants from Kunjiang. Zheng Yiqing coordinated with established migrants to provide food and accommodation for newcomers, while also assisting those traveling onward to Indonesia, Malaysia, or other destinations by arranging for their relatives to receive them. For over two decades, until 1969, Zheng Yiqing (Tay Aik Kheng) of Zhenfahou (Chop Chin Huat) acted as an informal leader and point of contact for the Kunjiang migrant community in Singapore. He played a pivotal role in addressing their needs and resolving issues, cementing his legacy as a key figure in the lives of these migrants. For the complete story, download the Khoon Kang Lian Ngee Sia - 50th Anniversary article in the archive section.