Study on Overseas Chinese and Ethnic Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Southeast Asia
Summary
Against the social background of acute class and ethnic conflicts in Yunnan in modern times, many Chinese people had immigrated. The immigration of overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin was influenced by the condition of transportation. There were economic and political reasons for the immigration, and the former was the chief reason.
Myanmar was a preferred destination for emigration. The Chinese immigrants of Yunnan origin there were mainly engaged in business and mining, supplemented by agriculture and handicraft. Overseas Chinese received different treatments by different countries in different periods: sometimes they were well-received and accepted, while sometimes isolated, suppressed, and cracked down.
Overseas Chinese had made indelible contributions to the agriculture, industry, commerce, culture, and education in both their adopted homeland and their country of origin.
In the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Republic of China, the central government and the local government of Yunnan implemented different overseas Chinese policies. The overseas Chinese policy of the Yunnan government in the Republican Era were all in all a success. They were a foundation of the overseas Chinese policy adopted by the government of the People's Republic of China.
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- About the author
- About the book
- This eBook can be cited
- Contents
- Introduction
- The Academic Value and Practical Significance of the Topic
- Current Situation of the Study
- I. Studies on the History of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin Migrating to Southeast Asia
- II. Studies on Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Myanmar
- III. Studies on Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Thailand
- IV. Studies on Hometowns of Overseas Chinese in Yunnan Province
- V. Studies on Overseas Chinese in Yunnan’s Chronicles
- Guiding Principles and Methodology
- Definitions of Key Concepts
- References
- 1. Reasons for Going Abroad
- Section 1 Social Conflicts in Modern Yunnan
- I. Increasingly Concentrated Land Ownership
- II. Exorbitant Feudal Land Tax
- III. A Wide Range of Corvée
- IV. Exploitation by Loan Sharks
- V. Severe Ethnic Oppression
- VI. Frequent Natural Disasters
- VII. Invasion and Pillage by Western Powers
- VIII. Ceaseless Revolts
- Section 2 The Impact of Yunnan’s Transportation on Overseas Chinese Going Abroad
- I. Chinese Merchants of Yunnan Origin Began to Take Up Residence Abroad as Foreign Lands Became Accessible to Yunnan in Qin and Han Dynasties
- II. Overseas Chinese Grew in Numbers as Transportation from Yunnan to Foreign Countries Expanded in Tang and Song Dynasties
- III. Number of Outgoing Overseas Chinese Spiked as Trade Flourished with the Development of Transportation in Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties
- IV. Number of Outgoing Overseas Chinese Reached the Climax with the Coexistence of Railways, Highways, and Trade Caravans in Modern Times
- Section 3 Why People from Yunnan Emigrate
- I. Political Reasons
- II. Economic Reasons
- III. Several Issues Related to Emigration Motives
- References
- 2. Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam before 1949
- Section 1 Economic Activities and Social Life of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Myanmar
- I. The Migration of Chinese of Yunnan Origin to Myanmar
- II. Economic Activities and Social Lives of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Myanmar
- III. Myanmar’s Overseas Chinese Policy
- Section 2 Economic Activities and Social Life of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Thailand
- I. The History of Chinese of Yunnan Origin Living in Thailand
- II. Communities of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Thailand and Their Economic Activities and Cultural Life
- III. Overseas Chinese Policy of the Thai Government
- Section 3 Economic Activities and Social Life of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Laos
- I. Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin Living in Laos
- II. Economic Activities and Social Life of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Laos
- III. The Overseas Chinese Policy of Laos
- Section 4 Economic Activities and Social Life of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Vietnam
- I. Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Vietnam
- II. Economic Activities and Social Life of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Vietnam
- III. Vietnam’s Overseas Chinese Policy
- References
- 3. Major Contributions of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin
- Section 1 Boost to the Economic and Cultural Development of Their Adopted Homeland
- I. Contributions in Respect of the Construction of Towns
- II. Contributions to Agriculture
- III. Contributions to Industry
- IV. Contributions to Commerce
- V. Contributions to Education
- VI. Integration with the Southeast Asian Peoples
- Section 2 Serving in the Wars of National Liberation in the Countries of Residence
- I. Serving in Myanmar’s Struggle against British Colonists
- II. Serving in the War against the Invasion of French Colonists
- III. Serving in the War of Laos against the Invasion of French Colonists
- Section 3 Supporting the Democratic Revolution and Economic Construction in Their Country of Origin
- I. Supporting the Revolutionary Cause of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
- II. Supporting China’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression
- III. Supporting Economic and Social Development in Their Hometown
- References
- 4. A Study of Yunnan’s Policies on Overseas Chinese Affairs from the Ming and Qing Dynasties to the Republican Era
- Section 1 Ming Government Policies on Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin
- I. Ming Dynasty Policy on Overseas Chinese
- II. Ming Dynasty Policy on Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin
- Section 2 Qing Government Policies on Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin
- I. Qing Dynasty Policy on Overseas Chinese
- II. Yunnan’s Overseas Chinese Policy during the Qing Dynasty
- Section 3 Yunnan Government’s Overseas Chinese Policy in the Republican Era
- I. Overseas Chinese Policy of the Government of the Republic of China
- II. The Overseas Chinese Policy and Practice of the Yunnan Government in the Republican Era
- References
- Conclusion: Reflections on the History and Social Status of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin
- The Hard Life of Overseas Chinese and Ethnic Chinese of Yunnan Origin
- The Accomplishments of the Earlier Generations of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin
- A Proper Understanding of the Relationship between Overseas Chinese, Their Adopted Homeland and China Is Imperative
- I. Southeast Asian Countries and Overseas Chinese Society Should Treat Each Other Rightly
- II. Proper Handling of the Relationships between China and Overseas Chinese and Ethnic Chinese Is Imperative
- Realizing the Full Potential of Overseas Chinese of Yunnan Origin as Contributors to Reform and Opening Up
- I. Yunnan Overseas Chinese Towns Are Mostly Found Along the Traffic Routes Near Southeast Asian Countries
- II. Distinct Features and Advantages of Hometowns to Overseas Chinese from Yunnan
- III. Maximizing Their Contributions
Introduction
The Academic Value and Practical Significance of the Topic
The study of overseas Chinese began nearly a century ago in China. It was in a nascent stage in the 1920s and the 1930s before it began to take shape in the 1940s. After an unproductive period from the 1950s to the 1960s, it made a fresh start in the mid-1980s (Guo, 2003). The field has seen rapid and unprecedented growth since. However, most of this scholarship has focused on Chinese immigrants from Fujian and Guangdong Provinces who travelled abroad by crossing the ocean, and little has been written about Chinese immigrants from Yunnan Province who travelled abroad over land, even though Yunnan is one of the top five immigrants-exporting provinces in China., All told, there have been no more than a few dozen of articles on the history and current situation of overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin in northern parts of Myanmar and Thailand or basic facts about notable hometowns of them. The number of monographs is smaller still, represented by Dong Ping’s 600-Year Changes in Heshun Village. In addition, Yunnan Gazetteers: Overseas Chinese Affairs also gives a brief account of the history and present condition of them. In general, however, given the abundance and uniqueness of research materials related to Yunnan Province, a major ←1 | 2→immigrant-exporting Chinese inland province, research output on this topic has been disproportionately meager in terms of scope, quantity and quality.
Located on the southwestern frontier of China, Yunnan Province is joined with Myanmar to the west by common mountains and rivers on a 1,997-kilometer section of the China-Myanmar border. It borders Laos and Vietnam to the south, with 710 kilometers of border line between China and Laos and 1,353 kilometers between China and Vietnam. The total length of the border line between Yunnan and the three countries amounts to 4,061 kilometers, with 27 counties contiguous with at least one of the three countries (Gao, 1991). Meanwhile, Yunnan Province is separated with Thailand and Cambodia by short distances, and is close to the South Asian Subcontinent in geographic terms. Exiting from the western frontier of Yunnan, one could reach the Assam region in India after going past the mountainous northern Myanmar. On land, Yunnan Province is where Southeast Asia and the South Asian Subcontinent are closest to the Chinese Mainland. The shortest overland route from China to these regions could not possibly go around Yunnan Province. Over two thousand years ago, Yunnan Province was already China’s overland gateway to India and Southeast Asia, a key link for friendly exchanges between ethnic groups of China and peoples living in those areas, and a land bridge connecting China’s central plains to South Asia and Southeast Asia.
In thousands of years of communication with the world outside, there have always been people staying abroad to become overseas Chinese. With a long history, overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin are distinguished from their counterparts going abroad “oversea” from Fujian and Guangdong Provinces by the following unique characteristics:
1.In terms of migration routes, most overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin migrated overland with the main destinations being neighboring countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, while some people living in coastal provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan, with the convenience offered by ships, migrated to Japan, Europe, the United States, and Australia oversea apart from those migrating to Southeast Asia overland. The routes and range traveled by overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin are much shorter than that of those going abroad “oversea” from Fujian and Guangdong Provinces.
2.In terms of foreign influence, though the migration of coastal Chinese residents overseas in modern times was also influenced by external factors, the influence on Chinese of Yunnan origin was particularly pronounced. For example, the covetous eyes of British and French colonists ←2 | 3→on Yunnan Province from the late 19th century to the early 20th century led to the outward migration of some Hani people and Jingpo people (Tan, 1995) .
3.In terms of the lifestyle, overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin tended to follow the seasons, planting in the spring and harvesting in the autumn. They would seek employment elsewhere during off seasons, and go back to their own fields during busy seasons. After some time, they would settle down from a peripatetic life when they had sufficient capital to make a living. In addition, due to such factors as traditional practices and shared borders, overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin maintained close ties with their hometowns in political, economic, social, cultural, educational, and marital terms. For example, miners from Xiangyun County who worked at Myanmar’s Bawdwin Mine in the mid-19th century would mostly return to where they came from after making a fortune. On the contrary, as natural barriers made it extremely costly to return, most coastal Chinese migrants chose to settle down from the beginning. Even after becoming better off financially, coastal Chinese migrants rarely went back to their hometowns. Instead, they would take root in foreign lands, start their own families, and seek development there.
4.In terms of the freedom in their countries of residence since the 19th century, overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin enjoyed far greater freedom. Since the 19th century, some Chinese migrants going abroad from such provinces as Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang were forcibly trafficked overseas after being lured or abducted as “coolies” by western colonists. Once they became coolies or “indentured Chinese laborers,” they lost their freedom to leave any time as they pleased, as the basic necessities of their daily life were controlled by colonists. By contrast, Yunnanese who went abroad to work as miners were less likely to end up in such a situation, and were usually free to come and go. Therefore, they were not a concern in the Chinese government’s relations with the British government or the Burmese authority, setting them apart from overseas Chinese laborers from Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, or Zhejiang Provinces.
5.In terms of career choices, overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin preferred to settle down in places where the natural and cultural environment was similar to that of Yunnan, making a living from menial jobs or small businesses. For example, villages and small to medium-sized cities in northern parts of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos were the places where most overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin settled down, and they took on ←3 | 4→such jobs as miners, lumberjacks, stablemen, farmers who opened up wasteland, roving vendors who also purchased mountain products, and hired servants, though there were merchants among them who acquired wealth from trading jewelry and other goods. However, overseas Chinese from coastal areas had to “fight with their backs to the sea,” as there was no way back for them. They worked hard in teams for a better life, taking on a more diverse range of jobs. Many of them became prominent tycoons.
Over the years, these overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin have been on good terms with local residents in the process of making a living and establishing their presence in foreign lands. They have played a significant role in the economic development and social progress in their countries and regions of residence with their diligence and wisdom. At the same time, they were concerned with the prosperity and progress of their homeland. From the Revolution of 1911, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the War of Liberation, the founding of the People’s Republic of China, safeguarding China’s sovereignty and national independence to rejuvenating the Chinese nation through reform and opening-up, they have made significant contributions by various means. However, there has been no systematic research on overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin. Therefore, the study of this topic is of great academic value and practical significance.
First, this study could fill the gaps in the field. A systemic study of overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin could let more people know about their history of working hard in unity to make a living. It allows people to gain knowledge about their historical contributions to the economic development and social progress of their countries of residence, as well as to revolutions, the reform and opening-up, and the modernization of their homeland (hometowns). It helps people to know more about their history of assimilation into mainstream society as they lived in harmony with local peoples. It adds to the research paradigm on certain special overseas Chinese groups to expand the content of the discipline of overseas Chinese studies, thereby offering a new perspective for more content in the research on Yunnan’s local history, ethnic history, and history of Sino-Foreign relations.
Second, an investigation into reasons for overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin to go abroad in different periods in history as well as their relations with Yunnan Province, struggles, and contributions could offer further insights into the social context and policies regarding overseas Chinese affairs back then. These insights could serve as lessons from history for handling overseas Chinese affairs today. ←4 | 5→Understanding the challenges and problems faced by overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin through exploring the features and patterns of their living and development provides a reference for guidelines, policies, laws, and regulations formulated by CPC and the government pertaining to overseas Chinese affairs, so that they could offer targeted aids and services to overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin and push forward work related to overseas Chinese affairs. At the same time, overseas Chinese of Yunnan origin could gain a better understanding of the history of their ancestors in Southeast Asia from the investigation. With knowledge about the past, they would know the direction for the future development of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, the proper relationship between overseas Chinese and countries that make up Southeast Asia, and the appropriate attitude that overseas Chinese should have towards China.
Third, the findings of this study could gather information for relevant decisions of authorities in charge of overseas Chinese affairs, and serve the opening-up of Yunnan Province. For example, overseas Chinese could act as “ambassadors” among the people as they share the same language and customs with Yunnanese, which makes it convenient to use them as bridges and ties connecting Yunnan and countries that make up Southeast Asia. They are of strong practical significance in comprehensively enhancing exchanges and cooperation between Yunnan and those countries in politics, economy, technology, and culture. As Zhu Jieqin, an expert in the study of overseas Chinese and Southeast Asian history, puts it,
Details
- Pages
- VIII, 248
- Year
- 2022
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9781433180354
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9781433180361
- ISBN (MOBI)
- 9781433180378
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9781433180385
- DOI
- 10.3726/b16872
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2022 (August)
- Keywords
- Overseas Chinese to southeast Asia reasons for going abroad contributions of overseas Chinese social life of overseas Chinese economic activities Ming Dynasty social status of overseas Chinese Qing Dynasty the Republican Era Study on Overseas Chinese and Ethnic Chinese of Yunnan Origin in Southeast Asia Chen Jun
- Published
- New York, Berlin, Bruxelles, Lausanne, Oxford, 2022. VIII, 256 pp.,1 table.
