http://www.zcwin.com/gaikuang/index.asp?NewsID=069417460635260&classid=069110391042425 增城历史名人:郑景贵
郑景贵(1821~1898),字嗣文,号慎兴,广东增城(
现属广州市)人。父亲因生活无着只身漂泊南洋,留下他母子相依为命。
道光二十一年(1841)步父亲足迹,到马来亚谋生。他的父亲原在马来亚经营小本生意,仅可糊口。郑景贵去后,以其机灵聪敏,助父一臂之力,生意渐有起 色。至咸丰十一年(1861)他40岁时,已跻身富商行列。
马来亚锡矿丰富,亟待开发。郑景贵以雄厚财力率先投资矿业,锐意经营10年,富甲一方。他拓展矿业成功,带动了当地百业兴旺,为各界所瞩目。郑家鼎盛时 期,实业发展到香港、英国、美国和加拿大等地。
郑景贵为了改善华侨处境,倡导建立以维护华侨权益、团结海内外同胞为宗旨的马来亚增龙会馆,导引华侨开发矿业,协力繁荣当地经济。他痛感文化低给创业带来 的艰辛,又倡议在各州埠创办华侨学校。他在香港建大厦,为内地经此往南洋的乡人提供食宿方便;乡人到香港谋生一时未找到职业,也到他那里暂时安身。
清咸丰、同治年间,内地一些品流复杂的人流亡到马来亚,斗殴仇杀,聚众抢劫,对当地社会治安危害很大,侨民对此深恶痛绝,而英国殖民当局却束手无策。郑景 贵以自己在华侨中的影响,与当局协力整治,终使这股为患十余年的黑社会势力销声匿迹。他从此声望更高。英当局封他为“甲必丹”勋衔,凡华侨事务都先由他处 理。
清末直隶(河北省)发生大水灾,郑景贵得悉灾情,以他母亲赖太夫人名义捐巨款赈灾。此事感动了清廷,给他在增城的故里赐赠“急公好义”牌匾。光绪十一年 (1885)法国殖民军犯我南疆,清政府告急。郑景贵认为救国御侮人人有责,毅然捐助巨额军饷。清政府为表彰他赤诚爱国,赐封他及其林氏夫人三代享受二品 官衔荣誉。其族人及后裔在他家乡建造“荣恩”石牌坊,横批镌刻“急公好义”四个大字并“文武官员至此下马”的封旨。
郑景贵每隔数年必回乡省亲,为了振兴家乡教育,他捐巨款建增江书院,广置图书,聘请名流讲学任教。一面又建议朝廷给增城增加考秀才的名额,结果从咸丰七年 开始年增2名,到同治年间又每年增加7名。他还特别捐助进库册金(奖学金)。
为了改善家乡郑新村的交通,郑景贵不断寄款回来,在五处崎岖山口处筑砌石级,总长达28华里。还修筑坚固的麻石桥和风雨亭各两座。为方便村民赶集歇息,他 还在福和圩购置了一间“大众铺”。
在家乡小山村,郑景贵建有大宅一座。装修精致,气派不凡。原是为其子孙后代而设的启蒙村塾,使世代不忘根在乡里,而实际入学的多是本村和邻村贫家子弟,村 童可免费在这里读书。
于1898年逝世.
This article is about the same as the English version about Chung Keng Quee's life.
ReplyDeleteTried the translator and got some really interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteZengcheng history celebrity: Zheng Jinggui Zheng Jinggui (1821~1898), Character child article, The number is popular cautiously, Guangdong Zengcheng (presently is Guangzhou) Human. Because the father lives does not have is drifting the southern coastal provinces solitarily, Leaves behind his mother and child to be bound by a common destiny. Daoguang 21 years (1841) Step father trail, Makes a living to the Malaya. His father originally in Malaya management pamphlet business, Only may get by. Zheng Jinggui After going, By its smart intelligent, Helps the father helping hand, Business gradually shows improvement after illness. Up to the Xianfeng 11 years (1861) When his 40 years old, Advanced into the rich merchant ranks. The Malaya tin ore is rich, Urgently awaits to develop. Zheng Jinggui Takes the lead by the abundant financial resource to invest the mining industry, Firm will manages for 10 years, rich. He develops the mining industry to be successful, Has led the local prosperity, For from all walks of life focuses attention on. Zheng family prosperous time, The industry develops Hong Kong, Britain, Places such as US and Canada. Zheng Jinggui In order to improve the overseas Chinese situation, The initiative establishment maintains the overseas Chinese rights and interests, Unites everywhere compatriots to increase the dragon clubhouse for the objective Malaya, Guides the overseas Chinese to develop the mining industry, Unites efforts the prosperous local economy. His pain culture lowers the difficulty which brings to the undertaking, Also proposed that organizes the overseas Chinese school in various states port. He constructs the building in Hong Kong, Provides the board and lodging for inland after this toward the southern coastal provinces countryman to be convenient; Made a living the countryman to Hong Kong had not found the occupation for a while, Also arrives at his there to find a place to live temporarily. Clear Xianfeng, Tongzhinianjian, The inland some official ranks complex person goes into exile in the Malaya, Fights the revenged kill, Gathers in great numbers robs, Is very big to the local social order harm, The alien abhors regarding this, But Britain colonizes the authority actually to be at a loss. Zheng Jinggui by oneself in overseas Chinese's influence, Unites efforts the improvement with the authority, Causes this to create disaster finally ten remaining years of life organized crime influences to go into hiding. He the prestige is henceforth higher. The British government seals him is “the armor must Dan” the merit title, Every overseas Chinese business first processes by him. End of the Qing Chihli (Hebei Province) had the big flood, Zheng Jinggui Learns about the disaster situation, Nominal contributes the great sum of money disaster relief by his mother Madame Lai Tai. This matter has moved the Qing government, Bestows for him in Zengcheng's native place presents as a gift “zealouss for public interests” Signboard. Guangxu 11 (1885) France colonizes the military offender south me the boundary, The Qing government is in danger. Zheng Jinggui Thought that saves the nation imperial insults everybody has a responsibility, Donates the large amount soldier's rations and pay resolutely. The Qing government to commend his absolute sincerity to be patriotic, Bestows seals him and Madame Lin three generations enjoys two official title honors. Its clansman and descendant in his hometown construction “Rongen” stone memorial arch, The streamer engraves “zealouss for public interests” Four large brush-written Chinese characters and “the civil and military officials hence discontinue” Seals the aim. Zheng Jinggui Every several other years must return to home village to visit parents, In order to promote the hometown education, He contributes the great sum of money to construct the Zeng Jiang Academy, Sets at the books broadly, Invites the celebrities to lecture the teacher. At the same
Direct translation sounds funny. :)
ReplyDeleteYup. :-) What to do. But from this we do kind of get additional clues.
ReplyDeleteIf I am reading this right, when he left China, not only did he leave behind his mother (Mdm Lai) and wife (Lim Ah Chen), he also left a child (possibly Thye Jin/Yin).
It also looks like he constructed some kind of boarding house in hong Kong as a halfway house for people entering from China looking for work.
We also have the year 1885 although I am not sure if this is associated to his Qing award for the flood donations or whether it is the year for his donation towards the efforts of the Franco-Annam war.
If this is correct then the memorial arch in his hometown was not constructed by Chung Keng Quee (as I had originally thought) or by his mother (as some books have said) but by his clansmen and descendants.
He constructed the Zeng Jiang Academy (wherever and whatever that is).
He suggested the royal government increases Zengcheng tests scholar's quota of people.
He also specially donates the "storehouse book gold" (scholarship), a name of some kind of scholarship I guess.
"Builds in five rugged mountain pass place builds the stone step, The total length amounts to 28 Chinese miles."
"Constructs the firm hemp stone bridge and wind and rain pavilion each two".
In order to facilitate the villagers to go to the market rests,
He also has purchased one in the luck and the dike “populace shop”" whatever that is.
Constructs big dwelling one. Repairs fine, the style is uncommon. Is the initiation village school which originally supposes for its posterity, Causes the generation not to forget the root in the native place, But enters a school actually many are this village and the neighboring village poor family juniors, The village child may free study in here. i.e. he made some kind of schoolhouse where schooling is free but the details and sources for this are uncertain.
So you see, for me it's like detective work. Piecing the pieces together.
In his hometown he built a large dwelling,with uncommon style and decoration. This large dwelling supposed to be a school he built for his own descendants. He didn't want his descendants to forget their root, instead the village poor family childrens and neigboring village kids go to school here for free.
ReplyDeleteWhat a greatman !
This article did'nt say anything about his wife and son. The large dwelling in Hong Kong is correct in your translation. I am very impress with your work , this is not easy at all. For me to scroll up and down the page to translate is giving me a headache. :)
ReplyDeleteit's all just for future reference. i don't add stuff to wikipedia unless i have good sources. but i keep stuff like this to cross reference and for further research. but yes i agree with you he was a great man. oh so "Leaves behind his mother and child to be bound by a common destiny." refers to zheng xinfa's departure not zheng jinggui's departure then i suppose.
ReplyDeleteThis article refers to Zheng Xinfa's departure, leaving Zheng Jinggui with his mother.
ReplyDeleteokay. thanks for helping to clarify that. although i thought that more than one son was left behind in china. don't forget apart from ah quee and ah seng (Chung Keng Seng/Cheng King Sing) Xin Fa had other sons i.e. Cheng Mau Loy, Cheng Yam Yoy and Cheng King Hung, and the first two eldest were Mau Loy and Yam Loy I think.
ReplyDeleteThis article didn't say anything about his other sons.
ReplyDeleteNo, but the tree that originated from Chung Keng Hung's descendants has the Chinese character names of the sons and according to that tree, the two older boys are Mau Loy and Yam Loy.
ReplyDeleteWe are talking about this article, we are not talking about that tree . :)
ReplyDeleteok
ReplyDelete