The kongsi federations of West Borneo were Chinese autonomous entities that conducted the mining of gold, and later expanded to other fields of business, based mainly in the and areas. The region never unified into one kongsi federation, and rather was a conglomeration of small kongsi organizations that mainly pledged to two zongting (assembly halls): the Heshun Confederation and Lanfang Republic in Montrado and Mandor, respectively. The following is a list of all mentioned kongsis and general Chinese organizations that we have from existing records and later Dutch accounts.
Kongsis before the formation of Heshun (mid-18th century – 1776)
Organizations mentioned in the Chronicle of the Lanfang Kongsi The ''Chronicle of the Lanfang Kongsi'' details the first clan-based organizations that existed in Borneo, around the mid-18th century. Four were documented:
Shanxin Jinhu 山心金湖 (Shanxin gold-lake) Jusheng kongsi 聚勝公司 (Jusheng kongsi) Sida Jiawei 四大家围 (Four Great Families) Lanheying 兰和营 (Lanhe guild)
*Note that "clan-based organizations" was a very general term, as there appeared to be many names for these fraternities, including the aforementioned hui, but also jinhu 金湖, jiawei 家围, shansha 山沙, bali 把坜 and fen 分. Even though one of the mentioned organizations has the kongsi 公司 suffix, it is uncertain if any of these organizations had the full capacities of the standard kongsi that will become the norm later in history.
Non-mining related organizations Chinese organizations were not limited to mining. Other groups of Chinese, either connected by similar beliefs or occupations, created similar organizations, also called hui. There were two recorded:
Tiandihui (Thien-Thi-Foei) 天地會- The Heaven and Earth Society, an anti-Qing secretive folk organization, found its way among the merchants and farmers of West Borneo. They existed separately from the mining kongsis and harassed the miners, and was one of the reasons the Heshun Confederation was created. They lost influence following the initial wars waged between them and the Heshun Confederation. Lanfanghui (Lan-Fong-Foei) 蘭芳會- A separate association that can be considered to have a connection with the Tiandihui. They were recorded to have a settlement near Kulor, before being kicked out after they attempted to conquer the city's Teochew merchants. Here, they moved south to Mandor, where Luo Fangbo rose to its leader and reformed it into the Lanfang kongsi.
Kongsis during their height (1776–1840)
Montrado Region OrderPinyinHakka DialectEnglish meaning01 [H]Dagang kongsi (大港公司)Thai-Kong, Thai-kwong kongsiLarge river02 [H]Xin Bafen kongsi (新八分公司)Sin-Pat-Foen, Sien-pak-foen kongsiNew eight shares03 [H]Shiwufen kongsi (十五分公司)Sjip-Ng-Foen, Sjip-ung-foen kongsiFifteen shares04 [H]Lao Bafen kongsi (老八分公司)Lo-Pat-Foen kongsiOld eight shares05 [H]Santiaogou kongsi / Sanda futing (三條溝公司/三達副廳)Sam-Thiao-Keoe kongsiThree gullies / Three reaches deputy hall06 [H]Taihe, Shiliufen kongsi (泰和公司/十六分公司)Thai-Fo, Sjip-Lioek-Foen kongsiGreat harmony / Sixteen shares07 [H]Jiufentou kongsi (九分頭公司)Kioe-Foen-Theoe kongsiOld nine shares08 [H]Manhe kongsi (滿和公司)Man-Fo kongsiFull harmony09 [H]Lao Shisifen kongsi (老十四分公司)Lo-Sjip-Foen kongsiOld fourteen shares10 [H]Shisanfen kongsi (十三分公司)Sjip-Sam-Foen kongsiThirteen shares11 [H]Xinwu, Xin Shisifen kongsi (新屋公司/新十四分公司)Sin-Woek, Sien-Woek kongsiNew house / New fourteen shares12 [H]Shi'erfen or Dayi kongsi (十二分公司/大義公司)Sjip-Ngi-Foen or Thai-Ngi kongsiTwelve shares / Great righteousness13 [H]Jielian kongsi (結連公司)Kiet-Lien kongsiUnion14 [H]Kengwei kongsi (坑尾公司)Hang-Moei kongsiEnd of the pit15Jinhe kongsi (金和公司)Kim-fo-kong-siGolden harmony16Guanghe kongsi (廣和公司)Kong-fo-kong-siWide harmony17Liufentou kongsi (六分头公司)Lioek-Foen-Theoe kongsiSix shares18Dasheng kongsi (大盛公司)Thai-Sjin kongsiMost abundant19Heshun zongting (和順總廳)Fo-Sjoen-Tsoeng-ThangHarmonious profit
Lara Region OrderPinyinHakka DialectEnglish meaning01Yuanhe kongsi (元和公司)Njan-fo-kong-siFirst harmony02Zanhe kongsi (贊和公司)Tshan-fo-kong-siSupporting harmony03Yinghe kongsi (應和公司)Djin-fo-kong-siTrue harmony04Huihe kongsi (惠和公司)Soeng-fo-kong-siFavorable harmony05Shenghe kongsi (升和公司)Sjin-fo-kong-siRising harmony06Shuanghe kongsi (雙和公司)Soeng-fo-kong-siDouble harmony07Xiawu kongsi / Xi Santiaogou kongsi (下屋公司/細三條溝公司)Ha-woek-kong-si, Klein-sam-thiao-keoe-kong-siLower harmony, Thin (Little) Santiaogou
Budok Region OrderPinyinHakka DialectEnglish meaning01Lintian or Xinle kongsi (霖田/新樂公司)Lim-Thian or Sin-Lok kongsiMisty fields
Mandor Region OrderPinyinHakka DialectEnglish meaning01Lanfang kongsi (蘭芳公司)Lan-Fong kongsiSweet orchids *[H] denotes a member of the Heshun / Fosjoen zongting. Italicized kongsis denote privatized mines, some of whom were called "kongsi".
Other minor kongsis with little to no information included: the Dahong kongsi (打洪公司), He’an kongsi (和安公司), Jusheng kongsi (聚勝公司), and the Mianyuan kongsi (綿遠公司).
Post-autonomous period (1850–1900) Following the destruction of the Dagang kongsi, and with association, the Heshun zongting, the Chinese attempted to reorganize into a new movement. The Jiulong kongsi (Kioe-lioeng-kong-si) 九龍公司, as it was called, they harassed Dutch soldiers. In 1854, they burned down Montrado, the former Heshun capital, and attempted to reorganize before they were caught and executed. The movement lasted less than a year.
Yet another secret organization resurfaced, from the ancient remnants of the Tiandihui. The Sandianhui (Sam-Tiam-Foei) 三點會, which the Dutch called the Three Fingered Society, aimed instead for general civil obedience and elimination of pro-Dutch Chinese. Unlike the Jiulong kongsi, the Sandianhui were able to extend their reach and cause disturbances to the new Dutch occupied West Borneo.
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