Khouw Tjoen

Khouw Tjoen (died in 1831), styled Khouw Tjoen Ko, was a prominent, late eighteenth-century Chinese-Indonesian ship owner and businessman, best-known now as the founder of the Khouw family of Tamboen, one of the most prominent dynasties of the 'Tjabang Atas' or Chinese gentry of colonial Indonesia.

Born in the mid-eighteenth century in Fujian, Qing Empire, Khouw Tjoen was the son of Khouw Teng, and a grandson of Khouw Kek Po, who hailed from the landowning Chinese scholar-gentry. His eldest son, Khouw Tian Sek, succeeded him as head of the family, and was awarded the prestigious honorary title of Luitenant-titulair der Chinezen. The substantive version of this title came with executive and judicial authority over the Dutch government's Chinese subjects in the Indies and was part of the Dutch colonial system of 'indirect rule'. While his eldest son's title was honorary, and thus came with no administrative responsibility, it marked the elevation of his family to the ranks of the Tjabang Atas.