Pictures of Duke Kai Tai Zheng Cheng Gong (開台聖王鄭成功)

Zheng Cheng Gong aka Zheng Sen (鄭森), Zheng Ming Yan (鄭明儼) or Zheng Fu Song (鄭福松), born in Late Ming Dynasty (CE1624, 27 of August) in Japan.

At the age of 8, Zheng Cheng Gong and his father Zheng Zhi Long (鄭芝龍) returned back to his Ancestor’s Hometown in Hokkien Province, Quan Zhou City, Nan An Area (福建泉州南安).

Cheng Gong’s father, Zheng Zhi Long was a well-known General of Ming Empire. Due to traveling, Zhi Long met up with his wife Madam Tian Chuan (田川松), a Japanese Lady, after then, they got married.

Soon, Zheng Zhi Long was being appointed by the Ming Emperor as an Ming Dynasty Officer.

CE1644, Emperor Ming Si Zong (南明思宗) hung himself, which marked an end of the Ming Dynasty, at the same time, Wu San Gui (吳三桂 the formal Ming General) led the Qing Army Troops into Beijing (北京), from then, the Qing Empire (清軍) started the ruling of China.

Even though Middle-China was being conquered by the Qing Manchurian, the Southern Part (南方), which is Hokkien Province (福建一帶), was not being fully conquered, due to the station and protection Troops led by Zheng Zhi Long & his family.

CE1646, Ming Duke Long Wu Di (which was not captured or being killed by the Qing Manchurian) appointed Zheng Cheng Gong as the Overall-In-Charge in defeating the Qing Manchurian, in-order to restore the Ming Empire back. At that time, Zheng Cheng Gong was only 22 years old.

On the same year, Zheng Zhi Long was being persuaded by Hong Cheng Chou (洪承疇 formal Ming Officer who surrendered to Qing Empire) to surrender to the Qing Empire. And after consideration, Zheng Zhi Long agreed and from then, he left his hometown and traveled to Beijing with Hong Cheng Chou to meet up with the Qing Emperor.

After knowing that Zheng Zhi Long agreed to surrender the whole family to Qing Empire, his wife which was the mother of Zheng Cheng Gong, Madam Tian Chuan killed herself in Japan (leaving her 4th Son in Japan, now Zheng Zhi Long descendants are still in Japan) and at that time, Zheng Zhi Long was being captured and locked-up.

CE1649, Zheng Cheng Gong was being bestowed with the title Yan Ping Jun Wang (延平郡王) aka Duke Yan Ping by Duke Long Wu Di and was given the surname of Zhu, which represent Ming Dynasty, which later, the folks address him as Guo Xing Ye aka The Duke of Country Pride (國姓爺).

CE1657, Zheng Zhi Long was being sent to a faraway border by the Qing Empire.

CE1661, after Emperor Kang Xi (康熙皇帝) ascended the Throne, he gave an order to kill Zheng Zhi Long, from then, Emperor Kang Xi started to do planning on subduing Zheng Cheng Gong.

After being defeated by the Qing Empire, Zheng Cheng Gong led his Army Troops to shift their base to Taiwan.

CE1662, Zheng Cheng Gong defeated the Holland Army Troops and successfully took over Taiwan and return the Home-land to the Natives and the Chinese.

On the same year, after defeating the Holland Army Troops, Zheng Cheng Gong got infected by some sickness, on 23rd of June, Zheng Cheng Gong passed away, with an age of 38.

From then, by showing the highest respect and grateful gratitude to Zheng Cheng Gong for defeating the invaders, the Taiwanese honoured him as a Deity and hoping that Zheng Cheng Gong will give the necessary blessings to Taiwan forever.

Till today, in Taiwan, there are still a large number of Temples that dedicate Altars to Zheng Cheng Gong, the folks addressed him as Kai Tai Sheng Wang (開台聖王) aka Duke of Founding Taiwan.