Playboy-Like Jeng Jin 鄭經 Exhibited Unusual Diplomatic and Political Skills In Governing Taiwan

The oldest son of Koxinga 鄭成功, Jeng-Jing 鄭經(1642-1681), was a playboy and a womanizer. He once had sexual relationship with his brother's (Jeng Hsienh) mother . Even Jeng Jing 鄭經and Jeng Hsienh had different mothers, this unusual sexual relationship was considered as an incest according to Han-Chinese ethics code. This had angered Koxinga who ordered to execute Jeng Jing 鄭經. Koxinga's deputies did not follow the execution order; the execution of Jeng Jing 鄭經 was spared because Koxinga died on 1662.

Koxinga's death brought in power struggle among Jeng Jing and his brothers and uncles. Jeng Jing 鄭經 then stationed at Ei-Mung 廈門. He had displayed unusual diplomatic and political skills. First, he dealt with Ching agreeing to follow Korea-China relation model for Taiwan-China relation to buy time for him to defeat his political enemies in Taiwan. After he consolidated his power in Taiwan, he allied with Japan and England against Ching which then allied with the Dutch. Jeng jing 鄭經 developed naval forces, ship building industry and trades which made Taiwan one of the richest countries in the Southeast Asia. Jeng Jing 鄭經 further developed agriculture system in Taiwan, built soldier-farming systems that made Taiwan self sufficient in food supply.

Jeng Jing 鄭經 biggest blunder was his involvement in Chinese civil war in the so-called Three-Territory-Event 三藩事變 in 1673. The involvement of such civil war consumed mush of Taiwanese resources and brought the end of this kingdom in Taiwan.

Jeng Jing's 鄭經 unrestrained private life brought his early death in 1681. His death brought another power struggle among the successors of Jeng Jing 鄭經. This gave Ching an opportunity to conquer Taiwan in 1683. After that Taiwanese lived a very miserable life under Ching's administration.