Teochew People

潮州人 / 潮汕人 / 汕頭人 / 揭阳人
Total population
25,000,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Mainland China	10 million
Hong Kong	Minority population
Thailand	Largest group of Thai Chinese
Cambodia	Largest group of Chinese Cambodians (200,000-800,000)
Singapore	One of the three largest groups of Chinese Singaporeans
Myanmar	One of the three largest groups of Burmese Chinese
Malaysia	One of the largest groups of Malaysian Chinese
Indonesia	One of the largest groups of Chinese Indonesians
Vietnam	Second largest group of Hoa people ( 34% ~250,000 )
Laos	One of the largest groups of Laotian Chinese
Philippines	Minority population
United States	Minority population
Canada	Minority population
Australia	Minority population
New Zealand	Minority population
France	Most Chinese from France are of Chaoshan background
Taiwan	Full assimilation into Hoklo Taiwanese society
Languages
Chaoshan Min (including Teochew and Swatow), Standard Chinese (lingua franca) & other languages of their countries of residence
Religion
Predominantly Chinese folk religions (including Taoism, Confucianism, ancestral worship and others), Protestant, Mahayana Buddhism.
Related ethnic groups
Hokkien people, Cantonese people, Hakka people, She people

The Teochew people or Chaoshanese, Teo-Swa people or Chaoshan people (rendered Têo-Swa in romanized Teoswa and Cháoshàn in Modern Standard Mandarin also known as Teo-Swa in mainland China due to a change in place names^[1]) is anyone native to the historical Chaoshan region in south China^[2] who speak the Chaoshan Min language. Today, most ethnic Chaoshan people live throughout Chaoshan and Hong Kong, and also outside China in Southeast Asia, including in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The community can also be found in diasporas around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and France.^[3]

Terms

Chaoshan can be romanized in a variety of schemes, and are known in Mandarin as Cháoshan rén and in Cantonese as Chiushan yan. In referring to themselves as Sinitic people, Chaoshan people generally use Deung nang (Chinese: 唐人; pinyin: Tángrén; lit. 'Tang Dynasty people'), as opposed to Hang nang (simplified Chinese: 汉人; traditional Chinese: 漢人; pinyin: Hànrén; lit. 'Han Dynasty people').

Chaoshanese people of the diaspora would generally use ting nang (Chinese: 唐人; pinyin: tangrén) to indicate Sinitic heritage in a cultural sense. Tingnang and tangren are broadly used by most of the southern Sinitic people living outside of China, referring to their maintaining a substantial cultural identity they consider to be Sinitic people. The identification of "tingnang" could perhaps be due to their early affiliation with the Tang dynasty. ^[4] The Chaoshan people are those who speak the Chaoshan Min and identify with Chaoshan culture, cuisine, and customs. The Swatow people are those who speak the Swatow language and identify with Swatow culture, cuisine, and customs.

Kekyeo, Teochew, Swatow and Chaoshan people also commonly refer to each other as ga gi nang (Chinese: 家己儂; pinyin: Jiājǐrén; lit. 'our own people').

History

The ancestors of the Chaoshan people moved to present-day Chaoshan as refugees possibly from central China due to various reasons.^[5] The Chaoshan were often called Fulao (Hoklo) because they came mostly passed through Fujian during migration, with some well-maintained language and customs from ancient China.^[6] As was recorded in pedigrees and ancient inscriptions, one of the two groups of those who temporarily migrated to the capital city of Fujian later moved to parts of Chaoshan instead in batches during the Tang Dynasty, genetically intermixing with the local people within Chaoshan there.^[7]

The Chaoshan people are mistakenly known to the Cantonese as "Hoklo", literally meaning "men of Fujian", although the term "Teochew" was used in the Straits Settlements in the 19th century and early 20th century. "Teochew" is derived from Teochew prefecture (Chaozhou Fu) the departmental city where they originate.^[8]

Chaoshanese immigration to Singapore

Teochew Association in Muar, Johor, Malaysia.

From the 19th century, significant numbers of Teochew people left their homeland for Singapore and a new life.^[9] Early Teochew settlers could trace their origins to eight counties/prefectures: Chao'an, Chenghai, Chaoyang, Jieyang, Raoping, Puning, Huilai and Nan'ao. In addition to these new immigrants from the port of Swatow (Shantou), Teochew immigrants from Siam and the Riau Islands also began settling in Singapore after 1819.^[10]

Today, Teochew language is the second-most spoken Sinitic language in Singapore.^[11] They are the second-largest race / Ethnic group in Singapore, comprising 21% of the sinitic population. As a result, they play a significant role in commerce and politics.

Culture

Chaozhou opera

Throughout a history of over 1000 years, the region of Chaoshan, known in ancient times as Teochew Prefecture, has developed and cultivated a prestigious culture, which manifests its unique characteristics in language, opera, traditional dress, cuisine, tea practice, music, and embroidery.

Chaoshan Min (simplified Chinese: 潮州话; traditional Chinese: 潮州話; Teochew pronunciation: Diê5 ziu1 uê7) is a series of dialect varieties spoken across the geographical area which was formerly administered by Teochew Prefecture (or Chaozhou Fu, 潮州府) from Hongwu period of Ming Dynasty (1369) to the end of the Qing dynasty. Teochew dialect is spoken by roughly 10 million people in Chaoshan and more than five million outside the Chinese mainland.^[14]

Chaoshan cuisine is known for its distinctive sauces, seafood dishes, and stews.

Teochew opera (Chinese: 潮劇) is a traditional art form, which has a history of more than 500 years and is now enjoyed by 20 million Teochew people in over 20 countries and regions. Based on local folk dances and ballads, Teochew opera has formed its own style under the influence of Nanxi Opera. Nanxi is one of the oldest Chinese operas and originated in the Song Dynasty. The old form of choral accompaniment still preserves its distinctive features. Clowns and females are the most distinctive characters in Teochew opera, and fan play and acrobatic skills are prominent.

Teochew music (Chinese: 潮州音樂) is popular in Chaoshan's teahouse scene. The Teochew string instrument, gong, drum, and traditional Chinese flute are typically involved in ensembles. The current Chaozhou drum music is said to be similar to the Drum and Wind Music form of the Han and Tang dynasties.^[15]

Teochew woodcarving (Chinese: 潮州木雕) is a form of Chinese woodcarving originating from Chaoshan. Teochew people used a great deal of Teochew wood carving in their buildings.

Yingge dance

Yingge dance (Chinese: 英歌) is a form of Chinese folk dance which started in the Qing dynasty. With a history of more than 300 years, it is regarded as one of the most representative forms folk arts in Teochew culture.^[16]

Although few movies or television dramas have been made about the Teochew people, one such notable drama is the Singaporean 1995 drama series The Teochew Family.^[17] In 2019, Netflix released the documentary series Flavorful Origins, which focused on Teochew cuisine.

Notable Teochew people

See also

• Poh Teck Tung Foundation: Teochew religious charitable group in Thailand
• Ngee Ann Kongsi: Teochew charitable group in Singapore
• Thai Chinese
• Taishanese people
• Lingnan culture
• Lingnan

Notes

References and further reading

• Gia Lim Tan, "Origins," An Introduction to the Culture and History of the Teochews in Singapore," ISBN 9813239352 World Scientific, 2018. doi:10.1142/10967

External links

• Gaginang, a teochew nonprofit organization
• Singapore Teochew Federation for Businesses & Associations