The God of Gambling: Tales of Siam

He was known as Thailand’s “Huang Jinrong.” Under his leadership, Thailand’s Hongmen Society became famous throughout Southeast Asia. He funded Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary cause, and Sun called him “the pillar supporting Mr. Sun’s cause.” He became sworn brothers not only with Sun Yat-sen, despite the difference in their ages, but also with Rama V of Siam. He was made an earl and granted the Siamese royal surname. A road in Bangkok bears his name, as does Siam’s first Chinese-style mansion. His temple was built atop a police station in Bangkok’s Chinatown, and the officers regarded him as their guardian deity. He brought blessings not only to the Chinese people in Siam, but also to the people of Chaozhou back home. The Qing dynasty once bestowed on him the title “Glorious and Substantial Grand Master” and a rank-two court hat finial. He built charitable halls to provide medicine, treat the sick, relieve disaster victims, and bury unidentified bodies. He built hospitals that treated Chinese people in Siam free of charge and provided childbirth services to women. He built schools where children in Siam and his hometown could study for free. He built villages to shelter the homeless and helpless, giving them not only houses but also money. He built roads and bridges and reinforced embankments, saving people from disaster. He was my great-grandfather, known in the underworld by the nickname “Second Brother Feng.” Who exactly was Second Brother Feng? What remarkable experiences and eventful life did he lead? Join us as we explore the legendary life of Second Brother Feng. (This is the story of Second Brother Feng’s legendary life in Siam. The author is his direct fifth-generation descendant.)