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 5 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. Most 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 common 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, few Chinese Cambodians have 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.


Prayer Points

Ask God to give the growing Chinese church a vision for reaching the Teochew Chinese in Cambodia, and to send out loving workers who can break through the spiritual, economic and linguistic barriers.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will cause the Teochew Chinese to long for a God who loves them and wants what is best for them.
Ask God to break down demonic barriers and barriers of materialism to reach the hearts of the Teochew Chinese.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among the Teochew Chinese that would see entire families drawn to the gospel and multiplying their faith.


Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Teochew in Cambodia.


References

Cambodia Research Network. Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

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
ROP25 Code 301734
ROP25 Name Chinese
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
Map of Han Chinese, Teochew in Cambodia 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
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: Web research. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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