Chinese Cambodians are a group of ethnic minorities of Chinese descent living in Cambodia. There are actually 5 different ethno-linguistic groups among Chinese Cambodians which include Teochew, Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka and Hainanese, the majority having Teochew ethnicity. These Chinese peoples began to migrate to Cambodia as early as the 3rd century, coming in waves due to wars, political pressures and economic hardships. Over the years many of the Chinese intermarried with the Khmer and were absorbed into Khmer culture, introducing Chinese customs and beliefs into Khmer society. But there remains a community of Chinese Cambodians who speak Khmer, yet have retained the distinctiveness of their own language and culture.
During the Democratic Kampuchea regime (1975–1979), the Khmer Rouge sought to persecute and purge the Chinese from Cambodian society. Attempting to escape extermination, many Chinese fled to neighboring Vietnam, while others tried to mix with Cambodian villagers, passing themselves off as peasants. In 1979, the Chinese returned and settled primarily in the population centers of the country, particularly Phnom Penh.
Nearly all Chinese Cambodians are involved in a business of one sort or another, ranging from small family-based shops to large companies. The vast majority of Chinese own retail sales shops, having converted their homes into street-side stores or selling in small market stalls. Most Chinese do business day in and day out without taking time off for rest, working from early morning to well into the evening. However, during the Chinese New Year celebrations most Chinese will stop doing business for 3 or 4 days to celebrate with their families and travel.
Chinese food, traditional medicines, decorations and religious paraphernalia are found in abundance in Phnom Penh. Chinese noodle shops and cafés cover the city and are enjoyed by Chinese and Khmer alike.
Chinese Cambodians hold to traditional Chinese religious practices, ancestral worship, demon veneration and Theravada Buddhism. It is not uncommon to find an entire wall in their homes covered with altars to a pantheon of gods, as well as food sacrifices and incense burning in their shops. Even though religious beliefs are expressed in a variety of ways, the true god of the Chinese is money. It is out of fear, not love, that Chinese Cambodians serve these gods, for to not offer sacrifices and burn incense to them is to invite disaster – poverty, sickness and bad luck.
Although economically more stable than average, nearly all Chinese Cambodians have not heard a clear presentation the gospel. Demonic strongholds and searching for wealth have been strong barriers, causing the good news to fall on deaf ears. Pray that God would send laborers to work specifically with these people, breaking through the spiritual, economic and linguistic barriers that have kept them isolated.
Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Teochew in Cambodia.
Profile Source: Cambodia Research Network. Click to email CRN inquiries and corrections Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Global Prayer Digest: 2011-06-30 |
Han profile for Children and Family Missions Activities |
People Name General | Han Chinese, Teochew |
People Name in Country | Han Chinese, Teochew |
Natural Name | Teochew Chinese |
Pronunciation | choh-CHOO |
Alternate Names | Han Chinese; Teochew |
Population this Country | 185,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,911,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 4 |
People ID | 12055 |
ROP3 Code | 103699 |
Country | Cambodia | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Country | Cambodia |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
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Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
30.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.40 %) |
1.40 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
64.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
4.60 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Chinese, Min Nan (185,000 speakers) |
Language Code | nan Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Chaozhou |
Dialect Code | 8848 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Chinese, Min Nan (185,000 speakers) |
Language Code | nan Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Chaozhou |
Dialect Code | 8848 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) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | 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 | Online New Testament | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament | Faith Comes by Hearing |
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 | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Chinese, Min Nan | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Chinese, Min Nan | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Chinese, Min Nan | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Chinese, Min Nan | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Profile Source | Cambodia Research Network. Click to email CRN inquiries and corrections Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |