Teochew Chinese in Cambodia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

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.


What Are Their Needs?

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.


Prayer Points

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  

Additional Info
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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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

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
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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.