Hokkien is the largest Chinese dialect spoken among Chinese groups in Malaysia. Originally, the Hokkien people were the descendants of the earliest Chinese settlers on the Peninsula who originated mainly from Fujian (also called Min) Province in China. Presently, the majority of Chinese in Malaysia, no matter their ethnic background, use Hokkien as a trade language to converse with other Chinese in particular regions.
However, most Chinese in these particular regions no longer speak a pure form of the various Fujian dialects. Today they speak a Hokkien which contains a number of loanwords from Malay and other Chinese dialect groups.
The Hokkien dialect is the lingua franca for the Chinese in Johor, Malacca, Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu, Kelantan, and Sarawak. As such, the Hokkien as a trade language is the majority Chinese language in these states.
In the past the main occupations of the Hokkien were as traders and merchants in the import-export industry and wholesale dealers and grocers. Presently, in the rural or semi-rural areas, Hokkien are tin-miners, rubber and oil palm estate laborers, fishermen, livestock breeders, and vegetable farmers. Within the urban centers they are factory workers, clerks and professionals, small-time shopkeepers, and businessmen.
As with the other Chinese groups, the Hokkien regard surnames (for them this is the first part of the name) within the family as important in retaining kinship and family identity. Sons take on the first name of the father to perpetuate the family line. In the family the supreme head is the father, or if the family has several generations living under one roof, the supreme head could also be the grandfather or great grandfather. On the death of the family head the wife takes over as a supreme head and she is respected like her departed husband.
Most of these peoples grow up in an environment of idol worship, ancestral worship, and strong teachings of filial piety. Their religion, no different from the other Chinese groups, has a multitude of stories, performances, rituals, customs, beliefs, sacred objects and places, deities, festivals, and folk practices.
The main deity in a Hokkien temple is Fazhugong or Zhanggong shengju. This deity, with unkempt long hair and carrying a sword, originally came from the Yongchun district (of Fujian province, China). A notable sight in Hokkien households is the display of three or more generations of ancestral tablets at the family altar, besides other deities. For the typical Hokkien family, a distinct ritual follows when a death occurs: holes are made in the deceased's pockets to prevent him or her from taking away the family's wealth.
A small percentage of the Hokkien are Christians.
The Hokkien people believe that good education is the stepping-stone on the path to success. Yet, not many have received formal education beyond secondary level. Formal education and vocational training in a wide variety of skills would be helpful. Pray that these needs will be met and also that He would awaken believers to the needs around them.
Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Hokkien in Malaysia.
Profile Source: Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Han Chinese, Min Nan |
People Name in Country | Han Chinese, Hokkien |
Natural Name | Hokkien Chinese |
Pronunciation |
|
Alternate Names | Amoy; Chaozhou; Fukien; Fukienese; Hainanese; Hokkien; Hoklo; Holo; Min Nan; Shanghainese; Southern Min; Taiwanese; Teochew; Totok |
Population this Country | 2,112,000 |
Population all Countries | 44,045,000 |
Total Countries | 18 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 4 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 11344 |
ROP3 Code | 102140 |
ROP25 Code | 301734 |
ROP25 Name | Chinese |
Country | Malaysia | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | 43 (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 | 43 (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 |
26.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 9.20 %) |
12.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
52.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
10.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Chinese, Min Nan (2,112,000 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 (2,112,000 speakers) |
Language Code | nan Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Hokkien |
Dialect Code | 6466 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Chinese, Min Nan |
Primary Language: Chinese, Min Nan
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1875-1916) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1896-1974) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1884-2001) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | God's Story video | God's Story |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Chinese, Min Nan | Jesus Film Project |
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 | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
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 | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Chinese, Min Nan | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Chinese, Min Nan | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Operation China, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
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. |