The Nanyang Chapter

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Illustration by Author

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Zi

Lao Zi may have been right, but 700 years is a very long time. The Hinghwa people were unwilling to wait any longer, and many decided to seize the opportunity to move when it arose.

Toward the late 19th century, the choice between "Do or Die" became a reality for many inhabitants of Xinghua during extremely difficult times. They had to survive on whatever nature provided.

The situation worsened under the Qing authorities, who viewed migration as illegal. Anyone caught attempting to leave the country illegally faced severe punishment, including capital punishment (Lim, 2012a).

To make matters worse, a plague swept across the region, further compounding their suffering.

The circumstances became so dire that staying was no longer an option. Thus, a desperate escape across the high seas presented a chance for survival. This opportunity arose for many when the Qing Court ceded Hong Kong to the British in 1842, marking the beginning of China's century of humiliation. Under pressure from foreign powers who badly needed labour for their colony in the Nanyang, the Qing authorities finally loosened their ban in the 1860s to 1890s.

It sparked the first wave of refugees venturing into the Nanyang via junk boats. The number of refugees shot up when a bubonic plague swept through the Southern part of China between 1894 to 1896.

For some time, their journeys were carried along by the wind until steamships were introduced. Several ports served as embarkation points, one of which was Hanjiang, at Sanjiangkou (涵江三江口).
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Image of Migrants arriving in Sibu, Sarawak

Copper tooling of migrants arriving in Sibu taken from Sibu Hin Hua Pou Sen Centennial Park.
Source: Author & Kapitan Frankie Nee

Source: Google Maps
Illustration by Author

According to the Putian Chronicles, which cites the Wang Family Genealogy, an 18th-generation descendant named Wang Shiqi was the first person from Putian to venture into the Nanyang in 1567, during the Ming dynasty.

Migration from Putian to Southeast Asia only began to gain momentum just before the mid-19th century, during the chaos of the Opium War.

The waves of Chinese migrants grew rapidly when the Qing Court lifted the ban, allowing people to leave the country legally (Lim, J., 2012). When Hong Kong was ceded to the British in 1842, the island became an entrepôt for migration for the southerners on the mainland (Kuhn, 2009a, p. 113).

Migration picked up momentum, fueled by the demand for ‘coolies’ (laborers) by British Malaya (now Malaysia, Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak) and other colonial powers in the region. Around 1938, advertisements began to appear in Putian offering people a chance to work overseas. By then, the Republic of China (中华民国) had already been established by the Nationalist government. Evidence of this includes my parents' exit permit and health certificates issued by them.

Many of the early migrants were recruited by human traffickers who sold them as "pigs" (猪仔, zhūzǎi) to countries in the Nanyang, where they were forced to work as coolies or manual laborers. One such migrant was Wang from Xiding Village (now Huating Town) in Putian, who became a coolie. Another was Lin Tianyou (林天佑), a native of Houpu Village in Duwei Town, Xianyou. He was sold to Surabaya, Indonesia, as a laborer at the age of 25 due to his family's poverty.

According to the Putian Chronicles, around 3,000 people from Putian were sent to work in and around the tin mines of Perak.

In 1870, Chen Ruiman (陈瑞满) traveled to Anson, Perak (now Teluk Intan, Perak.), in Malaya to earn a living with the help of his pastor. He, along with others, contributed to the prosperity of the state.

Among the more enterprising migrants was Chen Lan (陈兰), who had worked as a miner, repairman, and plasterer. He later rose to prominence as the chairman of Chen Lan Bicycle Parts Co., Ltd. (陈兰脚车机件有限公司).

Copper Tooling Map of Migration Route

Sibu Hin Hua centennial memorial park 5.HEIC

A masterpiece proudly displayed at the Sibu Hin Hua Pou Sen Association Centennial Memorial Park.
Source: Author and Kapitan Frankie Nee

下南洋
(To Nanyang)

Ai-generated illustration of junk boat

Source: OpenAI Chat GPT Jan 2025

下南洋 was a term used by the migrants when they were going to the Nanyang. Every year, starting from the early 19th century, Chinese junks would sail from China to the various ports around the Nanyang during the Northeast Monsoon. It started with a small number of people, but gather pace by mid-century.

The Northeast Monsoon is a period characterized by strong winds blowing toward Singapore. Later groups of migrants experienced a slightly better journey when the British introduced steamships around the time of the First Opium War. Although steamships were safer, the conditions on board was no better, as the passengers were served unhygienic food with rice contaminated with sand.

The long journey of two to three weeks, exacerbated by overcrowding make it difficult for some to survive the journey. In such instances, the deceased will be give a sea- burial.

Chinese Identity in the Nanyang

When the Chinese established their roots in foreign countries, they became known as the “overseas Chinese” (华侨; Huaqiao).

Some were encouraged, or even required, to assimilate into local cultures. In Thailand, immigrants were mandated to adopt Thai names and practice only Thai cultural traditions.

In Indonesia, tensions escalated after President Suharto seized power to prevent a communist takeover. As a result, ethnic Chinese were viewed with suspicion. Professor Wang Gungwu noted, “This was a time when Chinese facing the rise of new nations were asked to differentiate themselves from a revolutionary China that was beginning to sow alarm among its smaller neighbors” (Wang, 2012a, p. xxii).

To further enforce assimilation, all ethnic Chinese were required to adopt Indonesian names and cease practicing Chinese customs. A notable exception was world badminton champion Liem Swie King, a fellow Hinghwa, who was allowed to retain his Chinese name. In recent years, however, these restrictions have eased, and Chinese cultural practices -- such as the lion dance -- have made a strong comeback.

According to the Putian Chronicles (2016b), migration from Putian to the Nanyang began as early as 1368, during the Ming dynasty. However, only the name of Wang Shiqi was recorded as the first person from Putian to venture into the Nanyang in 1567. These early migration were more likely to be soldiers and civilians alike traveled with Admiral Zheng He to the Nanyang from 1405–1433. Genealogical records show that families bearing surnames such as Chen (陈), Huang (黄), Ke (柯), Cai (蔡), Xu (许), Li (李), and Wang (王) were among those who migrated. Many settled in Malacca, and their descendants later became known as the Straits-born Chinese, or Straits Settlement Peranakan -- a heritage well-documented throughout the region. It is worthy of note that migrants who travelled during this period were not the same as the mass migration that happened slightly before the mid-19th century.

Those fortunate enough to journey with Admiral Zheng He traveled aboard imperial ships protected by soldiers, while others faced treacherous conditions, left to the mercy of nature and fate. Yet despite these hardships, many managed not only to survive but to thrive and contribute meaningfully to their new communities.

This marked the beginning of a Hinghwa renaissance.

You can explore the legacies of these migrants across the Nanyang, where many have risen to become some of Asia’s most successful individuals -- excelling in their professions, gaining wealth, and earning recognition on the world stage.