Fuzhou people

Foochowese
福州人
福州儂 Hók-ciŭ-nè̤ng
Total population
9,700,000 [1]
Languages
Foochowese language
Religion
Predominantly Mahayana Buddhism and Chinese folk religions (including Taoism, Confucianism, ancestral worship and others), with many non religious. Minority: Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Fuzhou Tanka , Hoklo people, and other Han Chinese

The people of Fuzhou (Chinese: 福州人; Foochow Romanized: Hók-ciŭ-nè̤ng), also known as Foochowese, Hokchew, Hokchia, Hokchiu and Fuzhounese, usually refers to people who originate from Fuzhou region and adjacent Gutian County, Pingnan County in Fujian province of China and in the Matsu Islands of Taiwan (Republic of China). Foochowese are predominantly of Han Chinese origin and are a part of Min-speaking group, who speaks Eastern Min or specifically Fuzhou dialect. There is also a significant overseas Foochowese population, particularly distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, United States, Japan, United Kingdom, etc.[2]

Emigration

Fuzhou's history of emigration since Ming dynasty with Zheng He's voyages overseas. As the result of immigration of Fuzhouese to southeast Asia, Fuzhou dialect is found in Malaysia and Indonesia. The city of Sibu of Malaysia is called "new Fuzhou" due to immigration wave in early 1900s. They are referred to as "Hockchiu" in Malaysia.[3]

The Hockchius and Hockchias migrated to Nanyang (South-East Asia) in smaller numbers compared to the Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew, Hokkien and Hainan but achieved remarkable success. Amongst others, Robert Kuok (Hockchiu) rose to become the "Sugar King" of Malaysia and is currently ranked the richest man in south-east Asia whereas Liem Sioe Liong (Sudono Salim) who was of Hockchia origin, was once the richest man in Indonesia, controlling a vast empire in the industry of flour, cement and food manufacturing. The famous leader of the Malayan Communist Party, Chin Peng was also Hockchia.

Subgroups

Famous Fuzhou figures

References

  1. "Peoples Listing: MinDong People". Joshua Project. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  2. 福州市志(第八册). 方志出版社. December 2000. ISBN 7-80122-605-4.
  3. Chinese Overseas: Comparative Cultural Issues. Hong Kong University Press. p. 92.
  4. Fuzhou Tank are also count as a subgroup of Han Chinese
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