A brief introduction to the history of Sumatra
Sumatra Island (Sumatra Island, referred to as Su Island) is the sixth largest island in the world, with an area of approximately 470,000 square kilometers (kilometers). According to archaeological findings, there are human remains on the island of Sumatra 13,000 years ago. Around the sixth century, during the Tang and Song Dynasties of China, the whole island was divided into three small states, namely Three Buddhas, Aceh, Shuopo, and Badong, each dominating one side and believing in Buddhism, with the Three Buddhas being the most powerful. The Three Buddhas were called Sribhoja (Sribhoja) in the Tang Dynasty. It was called Criwidjaya in the Song Dynasty and conquered 15 other small countries. Later, due to the invasion of Muslim forces, the country was divided. In the tenth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1377), the Kingdom of Three Buddhas was destroyed by Java and the island was in chaos. According to “March of Nanyang” written by Mr. Zheng Jianlu: It is said that there was a Chinese named Liang Daoming, a native of Nanhai, Guangdong, who led thousands of Chinese to occupy it, and moved the capital to Djambi (Djambi), changing the old capital to the old port. (Palembang) (i.e. Palembang), incurs business travel, dominates the party. Later, another Chinese, Chen Zuyi, was a pirate on the sea. Reconnaissance learned that the old port facilities were broken, and during the 14th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1381-1382), he used a false attack and occupied it. In the third year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1405), Liang Daoming was his party Zheng Boke and paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty. In the fifth year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1407), Chen Zu tried to rob Zheng He’s eunuch and killed him in Beijing for Zheng He. After that, the Ming Dynasty sent Shi Jinqing as the Xuanweisi of Jiugang. After his death, his descendants would succeed him. In the first year of Ming Hongxi (1425), Jude sent envoys to pay tribute. The Chinese have lived in the old port (ie Palembang) for more than 40 years before and after the political power, which can be seen in ancient history.
Wen Xiongfei’s “General History of Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia” records: Ming Dynasty Yongle from ten to thirteen years (1412-1415), Zheng He went to Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra when he was envoys to the West.
During the fourteenth to fifteenth centuries, Atjeh was always a tribute to the Ming royal family. Therefore, Kota Radja, the capital of Aceh, had a small pavilion in which a large brass bell was placed. Two hundred jin, two feet in diameter and three feet in height, the bell is engraved with a line of seal inscription: “The sixth day of the winter month in the fifth year of Chenghua”. If this bell is not a reward for the royal family of the Ming Dynasty, it is the one that was transported by overseas Chinese during the Ming Dynasty to display in the temple. This can also be seen in ancient history.
When Marco Polo passed through the Malacca Peninsula in 1392, Muslim forces only reached Aceh. But then the Muslim power gradually expanded and penetrated the entire island. Buddhism was almost wiped out. After the 15th century, most of the aborigines of Sumatra had already believed in Islam.
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, European forces gradually penetrated the island of Sumatra. In 1511, the Portuguese came to operate from the east, occupied Malacca, and crossed the sea to trade with Aceh.
The Dutch followed in 1596, and the East India Trading Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) was established in 1602, based in Bantam, Java. Captured Malacca in 1641, and then extended its power on Sumatra. In 1781-1783, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were at war. In 1824, Sumatra was under the jurisdiction of the Netherlands except Aceh. In 1873 the Dutch colonial authorities launched a war on Aceh. The people of Aceh resisted fiercely, unyielding and not forgiving. In 1904, Sumatra came under Dutch rule.
In the 1930s, the population of Sumatra was about 8,238,500, with Chinese accounting for more than 447,500, and aboriginals accounting for more than 7,733,700, the largest number. Europeans and other immigrants were only more than 57,000. At that time, in the Dutch East Indies (Dutch East Indies), Java was the most important and the center of the economy and politics of the Netherlands and India; Sioux Island was second and was an important commercial area.
During the Second World War, Japan invaded and occupied Southeast Asia, including the island of Sumatra, from 1942 to 1945. After the Second World War, the Netherlands ended its colonial rule, and the Republic of Indonesia finally unified the islands and declared independence.
Early development of Medan and the east coast of Sumatra
Before 1870, Medan was still a deserted village. After decades of development, Medan has finally become the largest city and commercial port on the east coast of Sumatra (Oost Kust Van Sumatra), as well as the political and economic center of Sumatra.
The Sudong area is the first area of Sumatra. The land is wide and flat, covering an area of over 92,000 square kilometers. In the early stage of development, it was divided into five counties. At that time, the total population of the district was more than 1,673,600, of which more than 191,800 were Chinese, and more than 1,455,000 were aboriginals, the largest number. Europeans and other immigrants were only more than 26,600.
In the 1930s, Medan has developed into one of the emerging cities in Southeast Asia. According to the statistics of the Dutch East Indies at the time, Medan had a total population of 74,976 in 1930, of which 27,180 were Chinese, 40,096 were aboriginals, 4,292 were Europeans, and about 3,408 other Orientals-including Arabs and Indians [9]. The population of Medan grew rapidly after World War II.
Belawan, the seaport of Medan, is the largest port in Eastern Sudong. The port of Belo Bay is 154 nautical miles from Penang on the Malay Peninsula, a 10-hour voyage, and 373 nautical miles from Singapore (Singapore), which is also only a 24-hour sea journey. The agriculture in Medan is developed, and tobacco gum is particularly important. Therefore, most Chinese in Sumatra lived in Medan, but at that time laborers were the majority, while business people were only about a quarter.
At the beginning of the development of Medan, the government offices established by the Dutch colonial authorities, the Sultan Palace, railway stations, banks, grand hotels (such as Hotel De Boer, Grand Hotel Medan), post offices, clubs, and Dutch residential areas have become magnificent and magnificent. . The city roads are wide, the houses are neat, the trees are prosperous, and the scenery is quiet. At that time, the new market managed by the Medan Municipal Council covered an area of hundreds of acres and was divided into four major sales areas for various types of food. The stalls were arranged neatly and cleanly. The market was centralized and managed. It was a model of urban planning in that era.
Early Chinese Society in Medan
As mentioned above, at the beginning of the fifteenth century, Shi Jinqing was sent as the Xuanweisi of the Old Port of Sumatra in the fifth year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. After the Dutch ruled completely in the early twentieth century, of the approximately 70,000 population of Medan, the political and economic center of Sumatra, 30% were Chinese, but most were Chinese workers. When Medan was still a deserted village in the early days, the brothers Zhang Yunan (Tjong Yong Hian, 1850-1911) and Zhang Hongnan (Tjong A Fie, 1860-1921) who immigrated from Meixian County, Guangdong Province started as workers. Applying his childhood knowledge and working hard, he gradually became a more prestigious person in the Chinese society at that time. Zhang Rongxuan was finally appointed by the Dutch colonial government as the Major of Medan. After Zhang Rongxuan’s death, Zhang Yaoxuan succeeded. As a result, the Zhang family gradually became the richest man in the Chinese society in Sumatra, and an important force leading the development of the Chinese society.
Zhang Rongxuan’s son Zhang Buqing (zi Gongshan), born in Sumatra, was appointed by the then Republic of China government as the first consul in Medan. In the 1930s, following Zhang Buqing, the Chinese consul in Medan was Yuan Gangzhong, who had studied in Europe and was proficient in Dutch, and the consul was Lin Zekang.
With the development of Medan’s municipality, the Chinese society has also expanded. After the Dutch colonial government appointed Qiu Qingde as Medan City Ma Yao. Wen Fajin, manager of China Commercial Bank, Zhang Nianyi and Xie Liantang of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce have also become leaders in promoting Chinese business and social development. The Chinese commerce gradually developed and expanded and became an important economic force in Medan City. The training of management talents in all sectors of industry and commerce has also become a top priority.
In the process of the development of Chinese society, Chinese bookstores and Chinese newspapers occupy important positions. At that time, the Chinese bookstores in Medan were: Guohua Bookstore, managed by Xu Gongjue and Xu Boqian, and China National Products Bookstore, managed by Hu Zongshun. The Chinese-language newspapers include: New China Newspaper, and Sumatra People’s Daily. The New China News was established in the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928), formerly the Nanyang Daily, and later reorganized as the New China News. The general manager was Rao Feiye and the manager was Chen Jinni. The Sumatran National Daily was opened in the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924). At the beginning, it was called the Sudao Daily; it was later taken over by the Kuomintang and renamed the Sumatra Daily. Later, the content was reorganized and renamed the Sumatran National Daily; the manager was Ye Yidong , Edited by Fang Chaoxiong. In 1933 (Republic of China 22 years), the former Supervisor of the Zhonghua Book Company of the Republic of China, Mr. Zheng Jianlu, described in his book “March of Nanyang” when he was investigating overseas Chinese education in Medan, Sumatra, and mentioned that the New China Press and Sumatra The daily sales of Minbao in all walks of life in the Chinese are more than 2,000 copies.
A Survey of Early Chinese Education in Medan
In 1928, there were six Chinese schools in Medan City, Sumatra Island, Indonesia: Dunben, Chinese Businessmen, Yangzhong, Shenzhou, Tongyu, and Overseas Chinese Kindergartens, with more than 1,000 students.
Dunben School-the earliest Chinese school established in Medan was founded by donations from famous overseas Chinese leaders Zhang Rongxuan and Zhang Yaoxuan Kunzhong in the 33rd year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1907). In the twelfth year of the Republic of China (1923), when Medan celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Queen of the Netherlands, the students of Dunben School used Chinese satin to embroider the statue of the Queen of the Netherlands. Appreciation, commendation, and honor.
The Huashang School was founded by Qingde in Mayaoqiu, Medan City at the time in the 33rd year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1907). It was also the earliest Chinese school in Medan. Yangzhong School was founded in the third year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty (1911). Shenzhou School was established in the eighth year of the Republic of China (1919). The popular school was opened in the seventh year of the Republic of China (1918). The Overseas Chinese Kindergarten was established in the 12th year of the Republic of China (1923) by Ms. Lin Jiazhen.
In addition, according to a survey conducted by the Overseas Chinese Education Association that was later established in the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931), there were 131 overseas Chinese schools in Sumatra with about 20,000 students; while there were 66 overseas Chinese schools in Eastern Jiangsu, with about one student. Million people. The survey shows that although the most developed area for overseas Chinese education in Sumatra is Sudongfu District, while Medan was especially the most developed city in Sudongfu at that time, there was not a large-scale and complete facility on the island that was able to meet the needs of the time. The fast-growing Chinese society is a secondary school system for training talents.
The establishment of Suzhou Overseas Chinese Education Association
According to the “Sudao Overseas Chinese Education Series” published in September 1931 and other documents, in the summer of 1928, Zhang Nianyi and Xie Liantang, the overseas Chinese leaders of Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia, worked hard to promote the negotiation. The managers of the 5 Chinese schools, Huashang, Yangzhong, Shenzhou, and Tongjun, and Huaqiao Kindergarten decided to formally establish themselves on November 24 of the same year due to the fact that the schools are divided into different schools, the school system is uneven, funding is difficult, and the administration of each school is not unified. The Sudao Overseas Chinese Education Association, as the unified leading organization of the Chinese schools in Medan City, has formulated the Constitution of the Education Association. The purpose of this Su Island Overseas Chinese Education Association is: to promote the education of overseas Chinese in Su Island or to establish new schools or maintain the original schools, or to assist in the construction of overseas Chinese education with financial resources and other methods. port. Zhang Nianyi was the first chairman of the Sudao Overseas Chinese Education Association. From 1929 to 1930, Sioux Island Medan added the seventh and eighth schools, and formulated regulations on the organization of the meeting of principals, regulations on faculty services, and regulations of the Education Research Association.
According to the “Compilation of Historical Archives of the Republic of China, Part One of the Fifth Series, [6] Overseas Chinese Affairs (1) Overseas Chinese Affairs Administration (5.)”, “Suzhou Medan Education Association Chairman Zhang Nianqian and others” once handled the report for overseas Chinese “Business Education Experience” submitted an article to the government of the Republic of China at that time, so that the Chinese government could understand the realities of overseas Chinese affairs and education and obtain assistance.
The original Republic of China has provided important publishers for the education of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia-Mr. Zheng Jianlu, Supervisor of Zhonghua Book Company, described his visit to the Medan Overseas Chinese Education Center in Sumatra in his book “March of Nanyang” published in 1933 The course of the meeting. “The Medan Overseas Chinese Education Association was established on November 24th in the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928). At that time, there were six Chinese schools in Medan, namely, Dunben, Chinese businessmen, Yangzhong, Shenzhou, Tongsu, and overseas Chinese kindergarten students. More than a thousand people. Zhang Nianyi and Xie Liantang, directors of the Medan Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In view of the fact that each school is divided into different schools, the school system is not uniform, and the economy is difficult to finance, it is for the unified administration of each school and a unified school system. If necessary, after several months of liaison, with the approval of the schools, the six schools will appoint the representatives of the board of directors to discuss the name of the Medan Overseas Chinese Education Association. The funds of each school are under the control of the Association. November 24 The inaugural meeting was held, the executive supervisory committee was decided, and Zhang Nianyi was publicly elected as the first chairman. The general meeting is organized by four units of finance, academic affairs, investigation, and general affairs. It was approved by the former prime minister of each school, reported to the general meeting, and was hired by letter. Then the six-school joint general meeting was established. It all depends on the enthusiastic family to run the call, spend money on business, and succeed, and open a new era in Nanyang education. It is also a great blessing for overseas Chinese education. In the 18th year of the Republic of China, for the purpose of exchanging knowledge, learning learning, and connecting feelings, an education research group was initiated, and the back seat of the Tianhou Palace was restored as a kindergarten and listed as the seventh district school. In the 19th year of the Republic of China, it was for fundraising purposes. , Held the seven-school joint entertainment fair, added the eighth district school in Guandi Temple, and held the eight-school joint sports meeting. Over the years, three publications, including after-school magazines, education dawn, and education series, were published…. In the 21st year of the Republic of China, Dunben School was separated due to circumstances. The general association is to add one school in the first district, which is enough for the number of eight districts. The current executive committee of the Overseas Chinese Education Association is eleven, and the supervisory committee is seven. The second chairman is Xie Liantang. This year, the ninth district school is added. , And the English Specialization Department, which shows the positive development of the association.”
In the book “A Glimpse of Sumatra” compiled by Mr. Shen Leiyu in 1936, he also introduced in detail in Chapter 34-“Overseas Chinese Education Association” the insight of the Medan Overseas Chinese Education Association in Medan. Zhang Nianyi and Xie Liantang Initiated by Ershi, many Chinese leaders cooperated and planned carefully to build Sudong Middle School, the highest school in Su Island. Mr. Shen Leiyu predicted in 1936 that “Medan Overseas Chinese Education Association will occupy a very glorious page in the future history of overseas Chinese education in Sudao”. The article “A Glimpse of Sumatra” records:
“Sumatra has a vast land. Although the total number of overseas Chinese is more than 440,000, they are gathered in one city. Except for Medan and Tanjong Padang, there are less than 10,000 people. Therefore, the overseas Chinese schools in one city are at most However, there are only two or three schools in Medan. In the 17th year of the Republic of China, there were six schools. At that time, each school was in its own way, and it was unusually loose. Initiated the six schools of Medan, Chinese Business, Yangzhong, Shenzhou, Tongyu, and Overseas Chinese Kindergarten, to be guided and supervised under a common agency. After a long period of contact, the six school authorities agreed Agree. The Sudao Overseas Chinese Education Association was born in Medan. November 24th, the 17th year of the Republic of China, was the birthday of this association.”
“The first chairman of the Medan Overseas Chinese Education Association was Zhang Nianyi. The one elected now is Xie Liantang. Through the concerted efforts of Zhang Xie and the directors, the association will be restored in the 18th year of the Republic of China. The back seat of the harem was a kindergarten, which was expanded from six schools to seven schools. In 19 years, an eighth school was added to Guandi Temple. In addition, the Sudong Middle School, the highest institution, was organized. In the 21st of the Republic of China, the eight schools were expanded to Nine schools. Although the association has been established not long ago, its career has improved year after year. It shows that everything is easy to do if you work together. If the strength of all overseas Chinese in Sau Island is brought together, then there should be more great careers to show.”
“The internal organization of the General Education Association is divided into an executive committee and a supervisory committee. The executive committee has 11 members, and the supervisory committee has seven members, all elected by overseas Chinese who donated money from the port. The executive committee is for the purpose of seeking the progress of the meeting. , It is further divided into three groups: standing committee, finance committee and government affairs committee, each doing its own thing.” “The Overseas Chinese Education Association was approved by the Dutch and Indian government and registered.”
“The purpose of the association is stipulated in its registration charter as follows: “The purpose of the association is to promote the education of overseas Chinese in Sudao, or to establish new schools, or to maintain the original schools, or to support overseas Chinese education with financial resources and methods. The construction of the project started with Medan, and then the various ports on Su Island. “Now I am planning to contact the Chinese schools in Sudongfu District, which is the main hub of Sudonghua School. In the future, it will be expanded from Sudong District to the whole island. Then the overseas Chinese education in Sudao will take on a new look. Now cotton The Lan Overseas Chinese Education Association will occupy a very glorious page in the future history of overseas Chinese education in Sioux Island.”
General situation of primary schools affiliated to the former Medan Overseas Chinese Education Association
When the Medan Overseas Chinese Education Association was established soon and vigorously planned, the Dunben School decided to separate from the association and become independent. It was still chaired by Zhang Rongxuan and Zhang Yaoxuan’s Kunzhong family, and the original school name was restored. So far, the affiliated schools of the Overseas Chinese Education Association have been re-planned as follows (reference: Zhonghua Book Company Supervisor Zheng Jianlu published “March of Nanyang” in 1933):
(1) The first district school is newly established on Guandi Temple Street, the left side of the Fujian Guild Hall and the back seat of the Guild Hall. The school was originally designated as the first district school, but since the school left the general assembly, this school was added. Initially, the first principal was Huang Kangtun, with seven full-time faculty members and six part-time faculty members. There were a total of seven classes at the upper and primary levels with about 285 students. At that time, the teachers included Yang Jifen and Liu Yuyu. The school organization is divided into four departments: general affairs, educational affairs, discipline and education. School administrative creed: “Service is based on the school itself, teaching is based on children’s interests, research is based on scientific methods, and the principle of unity is the principle of handling matters.”
Educational purpose: According to the decision of the Overseas Chinese Education Research Conference in the Netherlands, cultivate healthy overseas Chinese, carry forward the spirit of the Chinese nation, cultivate a sufficient living ability suitable for Southeast Asia, and enhance the feelings of various ethnic groups.
The school building is equipped with an auditorium, classrooms, and results display. In the back seat of the Fujian Guild Hall, there is a student library, sales department, equipment room, sports field, etc. President Huang Kangtun and professor of Heyin Geography uses a self-drawn map, which is easy to understand. And self citizen Branch supplementary teaching materials, including: (1) polite, (2) how to do nationals, (3) communication of knowledge, (4) public places
are rites, (5) consular and other classes, able to fit Overseas Environment to teach common sense to overseas Chinese children. Later, the principal of Huang Kangtun became a teacher of Sudong Middle School. The Overseas Chinese Education Association hired Liang Ruochen as the principal.
(2) The school in District 2 was originally called Huashang School and is located in Japan Street. The Chinese Business School was established by Qingde Mayaoqiu in Medan City in the 33rd year of Guangxu in the pre-Qing Dynasty (1907). It was the other earliest Chinese school in Medan. The campus of the “Hua Shang Academy” was written by Sun Shiding, the consul general of the Republic of China in Singapore at the time, and wrote a preface to encourage each other, which shows that the school
has a long history. The first principal is Liu Ding, with nine full-time teachers and three part-time teachers. There are ten classes in elementary primary schools with about 450 students. The school building is not small in scale, with classrooms, academic affairs office, children’s library, office, children’s self-government association, children’s store, children’s club, children’s sports department, etc.
(3) The school in District 3, formerly known as Yangzhong School, is located in the back street of Zhanggongda Theater. It was founded in the third year of Xuantong in the pre-Qing Dynasty (1911). The first principal was Wu Jingfu, five full-time faculty members, and more than 200 junior primary school students.
(4) The fourth district school was originally called Shenzhou School, located on the second road of Lengya in Shuanggou. Founded in the eighth year of the Republic of China (1919). The first principal was Huang Fangkui, with seven full-time faculty members and more than 200 primary school students.
(5) The school in District 5 was formerly known as Popular School, located on Budi Shashili Road. Founded in the seventh year of the Republic of China (1918). The first principal and faculty member was Yu Fumin. At that time, there was only one class of first grade students, with a total of more than 50 students. The school specializes in accepting out-of-school Chinese children nearby so that they can have the opportunity to study.
(6) The school in District 6 was originally called Huaqiao Kindergarten and is located on Kapitan Street. This kindergarten was founded by Ms. Lin Jiazhen in the 12th year of the Republic of China (1923). After the establishment of the General Education Association, it was changed to a public school, named as the sixth district school, and changed to a female senior class with elementary school attached, and the kindergarten class was separated and a seventh district school was established. Ms. Lin Jiazhen was elected as a director. The first principal was a good student, with four faculty members, four classes of students, and about 190 people.
(7) The seventh district school, located at Kapitan Street, the back hall of Tianhou Temple. In the eighteenth year of the Republic of China, the Overseas Chinese Education Association separated the kindergarten classes of the sixth district school, and set up a new kindergarten behind the Tianhou Temple, named the seventh district school. The first principal was Ms. Meng Ling, two faculty members, and about 100 students.
(8) The eighth district school, located in Guandi Temple Street, was added by the Overseas Chinese Education Association in the 19th year of the Republic of China to transfer the students from the schools with too many members to the eighth district school. Students, no regrets. The first principal was Lin Huijiajun, and the faculty included Li Zirui. The school has eight full-time teachers and two part-time teachers. There are seven classes of elementary primary school students, with more than 200 students. The school is well-equipped. In addition to classrooms, there are also student shops, children’s library, entertainment department, and grades department. The purpose of its education: to enable students to have the spirit of autonomy and the habit of law-abiding.
(9) The ninth district school, located in Lengya Street, Shuanggou, was added to the Overseas Chinese Education Association. The first principal was Zheng Rihui, one faculty member and about 70 students.
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