Koxinga

Koxinga, also known as Zheng Chenggong (1592–1662), was a Chinese military leader who is remembered for his resistance against Dutch colonizers in Taiwan and his role in the early Ming loyalist movement. Born in Fujian Province, he was the eldest son of Zheng Zhilong, a successful merchant and privateer. Following his father's death in 1609, Koxinga inherited control over a fleet of ships and maritime trade routes in the South China Sea.

During the Ming–Qing transition, Koxinga supported the Southern Ming dynasty and fought against the Manchu-led Qing rebels. In 1661 he launched a major assault on the Dutch-controlled Fort Zeelandia on Taiwan, which had been occupied since 1624. After months of siege, the Dutch garrison surrendered on May 21, 1662, and Koxinga became the first ruler of Taiwan as a Ming loyalist force. He established administrative institutions and promoted agricultural development, but his rule was cut short by his death a few months later.

Koxinga’s legacy is twofold. Militarily, he is credited with expanding Chinese influence on Taiwan and resisting European colonial ambitions in East Asia. Culturally, he became a symbol of anti-Qing sentiment and a folk hero in Chinese folklore and popular culture. In Taiwan, he is celebrated by some as a freedom fighter, while others criticize his colonial governance. His tomb in Penghu remains a historical site.

Scholars view Koxinga as a complex figure whose military acumen and loyalty to the Ming dynasty shaped early modern East Asian politics. His life illustrates the lingering resistance to Qing rule and the interplay between maritime power and internal dynastic conflict in the 17th century.