The Goh Glan Descentlants in Asia

Since the Ming Dynasty, Chinese migrants started to immigrate to Southeast Asian countries in great numbers. Southeast Asia as a region was commonly referred to as Nanyang.

In the Philippines, the Goh descendants came mainly from the coastal areas of Fujian Province. Some came from Guangdong Province and Taiwan. At the end of the 19th Century, census by the colonial government at that time showed that there were about 50,000 Chinese in Manila alone. And Goh was the biggest clan. The '20'" Century saw many outstanding Gohs in the Philippines emerging as leaders in many professions.


The Chinese Chamber of Commerce was formed in August 1904 and one of its founder members was Mr Wu (Goh) Ke Cheng. Another famous Goh was Wu Zhong Ming, an editorial writer of the Do Gong Boo, a Chinese newspaper in the Philippines in the beginning of the 20'h Century.

On Decernber 20, 1941, the Japanese army arrested 42 Chinese community leaders. Among them was Mr. Wu Dao Sheng, a member of the Anti Japanese Committee of Overseas Chinese in the Philippines. In June 1942, the anti Japanese guerilla forces in the Philippines split into two factions. Mr Wu Yang, also known as Mr. Wu Zi Qing led one of the factions called the Fujian (Hokkien) Faction.

The ancestors of the Goh clans in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore came also from China during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. At the beginning of the 20'" Century, the Gohs had become one of the largest dialect groups in these countries. Most of them were from Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian Provinces.

In Indonesia, Mr Wu Bing Liang, the editor of an early Chinese newspaper Shang Boo, was known to be a brave journalist who dare to speak for the Chinese community. In 1907, a member of the Singapore Branch of the United League of China (the predecessor of Kuomindang), Mr Wu Wen Bo went to Indonesia. Together with an overseas Chinese Mr Wu Wei Kang and others, they formed the Indonesia Branch of the United League.

In 1921, Tian Shen Ri Bao, argon of the Kuomindang Indonesian Branch was launched. Founder members of the newspaper included Mr Wu Gong Fu, Mr Wu Wei Kang and Mr Wu Shen Ji.

The beginning of the 20'" Century also saw the Gohs emerging as an important clan in Singapore. For example, Mr Wu Shen Peng was a famous figure in the business circle. An important social club Yi He Club was formed during that time and Mr Wu together with Mr Tan Ka Kee and a few other business tycoons were the key founder members of this club.

In modern days Singapore, the Gohs have become more prominent in our society. The e are many prominent personalities such as Dr Goh Keng Swee was our Deputy Prime Minister and Mr Goh Chok Tong, our current Prime Minster.

In Thailand and Mynmar, Goh is also a relatively large clan.

However, it is said that the first overseas country where the descendants of Goh clan landed was actually Japan, one of the nearest neighbors of China. After the fall of the State of Wu, some of the Wu countrymen took to the sea to escape persecution by the State of Yue and settled in Japan. They were eventually assimilated with the indigenous people and evolved into the Japanese race.

Chinese historical records such as Wei Lue, Jin Shu, bang Shu, Bei Shi and Lu Shi all have entries on ancient Japanese emperors sending missions to China and claiming to be the descendants of Taibo. It was said that during the early years of the Republic of China, a famous politician Wu Pei Fu claimed to have discovered that he and the Japanese emperor of that time ore both the 1215' generation descendants of Taibo.

In modern days, the migration of Chinese to Japan continues. Among them a most famous Weiqi(GO) player, Wu Qing Yuan.
From Yen Leng Goh Clan General Association Singapore-Susan Goh