List of Kangchu system placename etymologies explained

There are several places in Southeast Asia that had its roots in the Kangchu system, an organised system of administration which was introduced by the Sultanate of Johore in the territories of Johore and Singapore in the 19th century to oversee the social affairs and economy of Chinese coolies who were working in gambier and pepper plantations. Even as the gambier and pepper trade declined in the early 20th century, many of these place names were retained as some of these settlers remained behind. Place names that are associated with the Kangchu system are named after former place features such as settlements, (or Chu Kang, Chinese: 厝港), river bases (or Kangkar, Chinese: 港脚) and port (or Kang, Chinese: 港). These terminologies are of Chinese origins, and draws its phonology from the Teochew dialect.^[1]

Malaysia

Johor

• Bukit Kangkar, Muar
• Kampong Kangkar, Chaah
• Kangkar Bahru, Yong Peng
• Kangkar Pulai, Johor Bahru^[2]
• Kangkar Tebrau, Johor Bahru
• Kangkar Kambau^[3]
• Kangkar Pendas ^{[4] [5]}
• Plentong ^[6]

Singapore

Housing estates

• Choa Chu Kang^[7]
• Hougang
• Lim Chu Kang
• Sengkang
• Yio Chu Kang

Obsoleted names

• Tan Chu Kang^[8]
• Chan Chu Kang
• Lau Chu Kang

Indonesia

• Sinaboi or Cia Chui Kang (Chinese: 正水港), Riau
• Sungai Nyamuk or Tua Kang (Chinese: 大港), Riau

Others

• Lanfang Republic, Indonesia.
• Kangkar LRT Station, Singapore.

See also

• Kangchu system
• Kapitan Cina

Bibliography

• Dunlop, Peter K.G., Street Names of Singapore, Who's Who Publications, 2000
• Ooi, Keat Gin, Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, ABC-CLIO, 2004,
• Singam, Durai Raja, Place-Names in Peninsular Malaysia, Archipelago, 1980

Notes and References

1. Ooi (2004), p. 710
2. Singam (1980), pg 62
3. Web site: The forgotten people . NewspaperSG.
4. Web site: Archived copy . 3 October 2012 . 6 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306150104/http://www.sc.edu.my/jiaofeng/mix-detail.php?id=153 . dead .
5. Web site: 2009 . 《马来西亚的三个汉语方言》中之 吉隆坡广东话阅谭 . Three Chinese Dialects in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Cantonese . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111162230/https://www.newera.edu.my/files/mces/xuebao2009/Xuebao09_83-131.pdf . 11 November 2023 . newera.edu.my.
6. Web site: Utar New Village Community Project Report . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045804/http://www.utar.edu.my/dssc/file/Plantong%20(FINAL).pdf . 8 August 2014 . 3 October 2012 . utar.edu.my . zh.
7. Dunlop (2000), pg 168
8. https://discoversg.com/2016/03/16/chu-kangs-singapore/ Chu Kangs-Singapore