Hainanese Chinese in Malaysia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Hainanese speaking Chinese constitute the smallest dialect among Chinese in Malaysia. Originally, Hainanese ancestors left the Chinese island of Hainan off the coast of Guangdong in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries in order to seek a better life in Malaysia.

The Hainanese dialect is linguistically part of the Min speech group, to which the Fujian dialects and Teochew also belong. Hainanese became a distinct speech group when early Chinese settlers from the nearby Fujian and Guangdong provinces came and assimilated with the original tribal inhabitants of Hainan island. The spoken dialect of the Hainanese in Malaysia is very much the same as those in Hainan Island but it has loanwords borrowed from other languages. Spoken words may vary in pronunciation and tone. The Hainanese speaking Chinese are one of the most urbanized with more than eighty per cent living in towns. They are found all over the country but are more concentrated in the states of Selangor and Malacca.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In the past, the traditional occupational identification of the Hainanese group was coffee shop operators. Presently, many Hainanese speaking Chinese hold positions in commerce, manufacturing, construction, banking, finance, capital services, and major industries.

Hainanese culture, especially the moral and intellectual aspect, draws from Chinese culture. For instance, parents are expected to train up their children to be good scholars and the young must respect the elder and the elder must love the young.


What Are Their Beliefs?

For most Hainanese speaking families, their religion is no different from the other Chinese groups - a syncretistic mix of several beliefs and practices. They practice a religion mixed with Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and ancestor worship. They label this as Chinese religion. They also worship different deities and visit various types of temples.

The goddess of Mazu, a communal deity, is popularly worshipped by the Hainanese. In fact, many Hainanese associations have their origins in Mazu temples and today it is still common to see Hainanese associations having Mazu altars. Mazu's birthday, which falls on the 23rd day of every third lunar month, is an important occasion of Hainanese communal religious celebration.

Mazu, popularly referred to as Tianhou or the heavenly queen, is traced by a myth to Putian of Fujian Province in China. She was a filial young woman by the name of Lin Moniang of the Song Dynasty. After her young death, it was believed that she saved people in distress at sea and so she was worshipped as their goddess of the sea.

A small percentage of the Hainanese are Christians.


What Are Their Needs?

Though the Hainanese perceive themselves as having made it, many in fact are still very poor. Many Hainanese think that good education will pave the way for a better life. Pray that followers of the Way will encounter receptive Hainanese in their quest and be able to point the way to the truly abundant life.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Hainanese in Malaysia.


Profile Source:   Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Han Chinese, Hainanese
People Name in Country Han Chinese, Hainanese
Natural Name Hainanese Chinese
Pronunciation HYE-nahn-EEZ
Alternate Names Chinese Qiongwen; Hainan Chinese; Hainanese; Qiongwen
Population this Country 435,000
Population all Countries 6,396,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 12053
ROP3 Code 103690
ROP25 Code 301734
ROP25 Name Chinese
Country Malaysia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 49  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Peninsular, especially in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu states.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Malaysia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 49  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Peninsular, especially in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu states..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
15.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 5.00 %)
8.00 %
Ethnic Religions
47.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
5.00 %
Non-Religious
25.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chinese, Min Nan (435,000 speakers)
Language Code nan   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Hokkien
Dialect Code 6466   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chinese, Min Nan (435,000 speakers)
Language Code nan   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Hokkien
Dialect Code 6466   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chinese, Min Nan
Photo Source Teaelixer - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission
Profile Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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