Han Family of Lasem and the Rise of a Peranakan Dynasty

Introduction: Lasem, Where a Name Became History

javaprivatetour.com – Lasem is often remembered as a quiet coastal town on Java’s northern shore. Its old houses, narrow streets, and long-standing Chinese presence give the impression of a place that has stepped out of time. Yet behind this calm appearance lies the origin story of one of Java’s most influential families: the Han family of Lasem.

Known locally as Marga Han, meaning the Han clan or extended family lineage, this family belongs to the Peranakan Chinese tradition, a community of Chinese descent that had lived in Java for generations and became deeply rooted in local Javanese society. From Lasem, the Han family would rise to shape politics, economy, and even the Islamic elite of East Java from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century, leaving a legacy that still echoes today.

Their story is inseparable from major historical events, from the Geger Pacinan uprising between 1740 and 1743 to the final decades of Dutch colonial rule. It is a story of migration, marriage, power, myth, and legacy, woven into the broader fabric of Javanese history.

From Han Siong Kong to a Network of Power

Han Bwee Kong, the Kapitan of the Chinese community in Surabaya, was the younger brother of Han Tjien Kong. These two brothers were the successors of Han Siong Kong who established the Han family lineage in Java. Together, they produced generations of influential Chinese officers and Islamic leaders in Java.

The origin of the Han family of Lasem begins with Han Siong Kong, also known as Han Chun Du. He was a descendant of the Han lineage from Tianbao, Fujian, China, belonging to the twenty-first generation of his clan during the Ming Dynasty. Despite this long ancestral background, Han Siong Kong did not arrive in Java as a wealthy merchant or influential official.

Without clear records explaining his reasons for leaving China, Han Siong Kong arrived in Java and landed in Lasem. Unlike many of his later descendants, he came without wealth or status. Historical research suggests that he arrived in modest circumstances, far removed from the powerful figure his lineage would later become. Lasem thus became the first recorded foothold of the Han family in Java, a small port town that would quietly witness the rise of a powerful dynasty.

A decisive moment in Han Siong Kong’s life came through marriage. He married the daughter of a Tumenggung from the Kadipaten Rajegwesi, an area known today as Bojonegoro. Through this marriage, Han Siong Kong entered the Javanese aristocratic network, a step that fundamentally changed the position of his family and opened access to political and social influence far beyond Lasem.

Han Siong Kong passed away in 1743 in Rajegwesi, during the turbulent years of the Geger Pacinan uprising, a period marked by rebellion involving Chinese and Javanese communities against the VOC. From that moment onward, the influence of the Han family would not diminish. Instead, it would expand across Java through his descendants.

Han Putih (White) and Han Hitam (Black) : Two Paths of Influence

As the Han family grew and spread across Java, its members gradually formed two distinct orientations that later came to be described as Han Putih and Han Hitam. These terms did not reflect moral differences, but rather the roles played by different branches of the family within colonial society.

The Han Putih branch focused primarily on economic activities, particularly the management of sugar factories and agricultural production. Sugar was one of the most profitable commodities in colonial Java, and control over plantations translated directly into long-term wealth and regional influence.

The Han Hitam branch, meanwhile, entered the world of bureaucracy, governance, and education. Members of this branch served as Chinese officers, holding ranks such as lieutenant, major, and kapitan. These positions placed them as intermediaries between the VOC, local Javanese rulers, and the wider population, allowing the Han family to exert influence not only economically but also politically.

Myths and Oral Traditions Surrounding the Han Family

Like many powerful families, the Han lineage is surrounded by myths and oral traditions that blur the line between history and memory. One of the most enduring stories concerns the burial of Han Siong Kong. According to oral tradition, heavy rain and thunder struck during his funeral, forcing the coffin to be left behind. Later, the coffin was said to have been mysteriously buried.

From this event emerged the belief that Han Siong Kong cursed his descendants for their lack of devotion. Since then, it is said that parts of the Han family left Lasem, spreading across Java. Another well-known legend tells of a later family member whose sons squandered their inheritance, even using condolence money from mourners at gambling tables. These stories functioned as moral lessons within the family, passed down alongside documented history.

The atmosphere of one of the ancient gateways in Babagan Village, decorated with lanterns to revive the feel of old Lasem while also providing street lighting for the safety of road users. The Han family in Java originated from Lasem. There are various curses and blessings associated with this influential Chinese lineage in Java.

Han Tjien Kong and Han Bwee Kong: Brothers Who Shaped East Java

Han Siong Kong had seven children, but two of them left the deepest imprint on Javanese history: Han Tjien Kong and Han Bwee Kong. Their paths differed, yet together they laid the foundation for the Han family’s lasting dominance in East Java.

Han Tjien Kong was born in Rajegwesi in 1720. As an adult, he converted to Islam, becoming the first known Muslim figure within the Han family. After his conversion, he received the Javanese aristocratic title Ingabehi Raden Rangga Soero Prenollo, also known as Muchsin. Following the death of his father, he moved from Lasem to the eastern regions of Java, serving in Besuki and later Panarukan under the VOC, where he became a trusted figure within colonial administration.

His younger brother, Han Bwee Kong, born in 1727, took a different route. He rose through the colonial system to become Kapitan Cina of Surabaya, the highest-ranking Chinese officer in the city. Surabaya, as a major port and commercial center, became a central stage for the Han family’s political and economic power. When Han Tjien Kong passed away, Han Bwee Kong provided burial land near Pasar Bong in Surabaya, and he himself was later buried nearby.

The Next Generation: Mayors, Landowners, and Sugar Pioneers

The sons of Han Bwee Kong continued the family’s ascent. Han Chan Piet and Han Kik Ko both became Mayor of the Chinese community. Han Chan Piet succeeded his father as Kapitan Cina of Surabaya and, in 1796, was appointed as a lifetime tax farmer for Besuki and Panarukan under the VOC, strengthening the family’s economic foundations.

Han Kik Ko emerged as one of the most powerful landowners in East Java. He controlled extensive estates around Surabaya and became a pioneer of the sugar industry in the region. His influence was so significant that he was appointed Regent of Probolinggo with the title Tumenggung. His life ended tragically in 1813 during a rebellion against British rule under Stamford Raffles, when he was killed while hosting colonial officials.

The Muslim Descendants of Han Tjien Kong

The Muslim branch of the Han family descended from Han Tjien Kong produced numerous figures who combined Islamic authority with political power. They settled along the northern coast of East Java, from Sidoarjo, Bangil, Tuban, and Gresik to Surabaya and Banyuwangi.

One prominent descendant was Han Sam Kong, also known as Babah Sam or Soemodiwirjo. He entered government service in 1772 and in 1788 received the title Tumanggung Soero Adinegoro. In 1809, he was appointed Regent of Malang by Governor-General Herman Willem Daendels, reflecting the continued political influence of the Han family.

Another important figure was Kyai Soero Adi Wikromo, who served as Ronggo Besuki and later as Regent of Puger. He conducted population censuses as part of taxation and administration, illustrating how the Han family blended Islamic leadership with colonial governance.

The tomb of Han Wee Sing, also known as Han Du Chun or Han Siong Kong, is located in Babagan Village, Lasem, Central Java. The death of Han Siong Kong is surrounded by myths. According to local belief, he cursed his own family because of the behavior of his children at the time of his death.

Conclusion: Walking Through the Legacy Today

The story of the Han family of Lasem is not merely a family chronicle. It is a window into how Peranakan Chinese lineages shaped Java through marriage, adaptation, and strategic engagement with power. From the arrival of Han Siong Kong in Lasem to the rise of regents, mayors, and Islamic elites, the Han family left an imprint that stretched across East Java for more than a century.

Today, Lasem remains the symbolic birthplace of this legacy. Walking through its streets or visiting the Han ancestral house in Surabaya is not just a heritage experience, but a journey through layers of history where Chinese, Javanese, Islamic, and colonial worlds intersect.

At Java Private Tour, we are not general tour operators. We specialize in heritage journeys that go beyond surface-level sightseeing, connecting places with stories and historical context. If you are interested in exploring the legacy of families like the Han clan or discovering hidden layers of Java’s past, visit our REQUEST PAGE or simply CLICK THIS LINK to chat with us on WhatsApp. With Java Private Tour, you are not just visiting places, you are walking through history. See you in Java.