Mandarin Chinese in Malaysia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group in the world, numbering more than 1. 3 billion. Although the vast majority live in mainland China, many have immigrated to other countries, and today they reside in nearly every nation of the world. Most Han Chinese speak one of the many Chinese dialects, which include Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien. Although the dialects are very similar, the speakers of one Chinese dialect cannot understand the speakers of another. Each of these dialects is represented among the Han Chinese communities in Myanmar.
The first Chinese migrants came to Myanmar during the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368-1644) Dynasties. In between those two periods a very large number fled the Mongol invasions and settle in other parts of East Asia. During the British colonial era, more Chinese were moved to Myanmar, a colony of Great Britain at that time, where they dominated the rice and gem industries. Wherever they went, the Chinese settled almost exclusively in urban areas and became involved in business and commerce. Today, they are very influential in the economies of many of these nations, though they represent only a small percentage of the population.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditionally the Chinese have been key players in Myanmar's economy as businessmen, merchants and shop owners. Those less fortunate were coolie laborers, dock workers, rickshaw and cart drivers. They are noted today for their business acumen, and they own a large percentage of Myanmar's factories. Mandarin Chinese in Myanmar maintain high status partly through obtaining higher education. The Burmese have tried to restrict their educational opportunities to no avail. Myanmar's heavy-handed State Law and Order Council (SLORC) loosened government control over the private sector when they came to power in 1988, and the Chinese took advantage of the opportunities. That led to them having more economic power, especially in the areas of banking and retail. Today the Mandarin Chinese are spread out all over northern Myanmar and the cities of Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi and Bago.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Diaspora Han Chinese have generally maintained their traditional Chinese religion, which is characterized by a blending of philosophies. It has added elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism over the course of time. Their beliefs are centered around the concept of maintaining harmony.
The Han Chinese consult horoscopes in an attempt to determine what course of action will promote harmony and bring good luck. They also believe in a pantheon of spirits who inhabit the earth. The spirits of their ancestors supposedly roam the earth, and if treated properly, are benign and bring good luck. They believe that ghosts exist as the spirits of people who are angry at the circumstances of their death; these spirits are said to be malicious and capricious. Deities are supposedly the souls of people who lived especially virtuous lives. They believe these deities have spiritual powers that can be used to benefit those who worship them. Although the Han Chinese still claim adherence to these beliefs, they seem to have little effect on their everyday lives. In fact, many of them are non-religious in practice.
There are Christian believers among the Mandarin speakers in Macau, and this has been the case since the days of Roman Catholic missionaries.


What Are Their Needs?

The Mandarin Chinese population in Myanmar needs protection from mobs who have been recently attacking their businesses. They need peace in their communities.


Prayer Points

Pray for God's protection for the Chinese in Myanmar as their businesses have been under attack at various times.
Pray for Mandarin speaking believers to go to these people and work with them to begin a movement to Christ in Myanmar.
Pray for Mandarin speakers to be given the gift of faith in the power and goodness of Jesus Christ so they will put aside their traditional religious practices and depend on him.
Pray for the Lord to meet all their physical and spiritual needs.


Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Mandarin in Malaysia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Han Chinese, Mandarin
People Name in Country Han Chinese, Mandarin
Natural Name Mandarin Chinese
Alternate Names Beijinghua; Cantonese; Chinese; Chinese, Mandarin; Guanhua; Guoyu; Han Chinese; Hoa (Hán); Hoton; Huizui; Kreol; Pei; Potinhua; Qotong; Shanghainese; Totok; Yueh; हाँ चाइनीस, मंदरिन
Population this Country 1,095,000
Population all Countries 931,685,000
Total Countries 53
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 12051
ROP3 Code 103686
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 and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak states) especially in urban areas; scattered.   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 and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak states) especially in urban areas; scattered..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
20.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 5.75 %)
11.00 %
Ethnic Religions
44.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
15.00 %
Non-Religious
10.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chinese, Mandarin (1,095,000 speakers)
Language Code cmn   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chinese, Mandarin (1,095,000 speakers)
Language Code cmn   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chinese, Mandarin

Primary Language:  Chinese, Mandarin

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1864-1986)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1857-1981)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1874-2018)
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
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Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus film: view in Mandarin Chinese Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
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Photo Source Jakob Montrasio - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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