Min Nan Chinese in Cambodia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group in the world. 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. In a number of these countries, including Laos, Nepal, Tanzania, Cambodia, and Thailand, the Chinese communities remain largely unreached with the gospel.
Most Han Chinese speak one of the many Chinese dialects, which include Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien. The speakers of one Chinese dialect cannot understand the speakers of another. Other Han Chinese people speak the Min Nan dialect. They live in a number of countries including Cambodia.
The Han Chinese began fleeing to other countries in 1276 after the Mongol invasion. Many other upheavals and conflicts followed, and the Chinese continued to settle in other nations, particularly in Cambodia and other places in Southeast Asia. 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?

The Min Nan Chinese continue to live primarily in cities. In a number of countries many of them are businessmen. Their businesses range from small shops to international corporations. They live in a wide variety of houses, ranging from small apartments to costly mansions. Most of them have retained their traditional rice-based diet. The Min Nan Chinese in Cambodia have maintained their culture and language. They have also continued living by their traditional Chinese customs, especially those regarding marriage and the family. One of the primary reasons they have kept their own languages and customs is because they have a deeply ingrained belief in the superiority of their culture.
The Han Chinese treat their children affectionately and usually indulge boys more than girls. The children are pushed to do well in school and are given much time to devote to their studies. The Min Nan Chinese are known for their politeness and will go to great lengths to avoid disputes. However, once a dispute begins it is very difficult to stop because they place a high value on "saving face." Giving ground in an open dispute would cause them to lose face—something the Chinese try to avoid at all costs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Min Nan Chinese have generally maintained their traditional Chinese religion, which is characterized by a blending of philosophies. Over the course of time it has added elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Their beliefs are centered around the concept of maintaining harmony.
They 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 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. The belief is that they have spiritual powers that can be used to benefit those who worship them.
Although the Min Nan 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.


What Are Their Needs?

The Diaspora Chinese are often mistreated in the lands in which they live. In some countries there have been anti-Chinese riots. In nearly all of the countries, nationals are envious of the Diaspora Han Chinese because of their success in business, commerce and trade.
The Han Chinese suffer from great spiritual needs. Cambodia is open to the gospel, and the Min Nan dialect has a complete Bible, even in audio form.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to provide for the Min Nan Chinese people's physical and spiritual needs and that they will understand this as an example of God's grace and mercy.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out Holy Spirit-anointed workers to the Min Nan Chinese in Cambodia.
Pray that they will have a thirst for the water of life that only Jesus can provide.
Pray for a movement to Christ that cannot be stopped.


Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Min Nan in Cambodia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2011-06-29
Han profile for Children and Family Missions Activities
People Name General Han Chinese, Min Nan
People Name in Country Han Chinese, Min Nan
Natural Name Min Nan Chinese
Pronunciation Min-Nahn
Alternate Names Amoy; Chaozhou; Fukien; Fukienese; Hainanese; Hokkien; Hoklo; Holo; Min Nan; Shanghainese; Southern Min; Taiwanese; Teochew; Totok
Population this Country 145,000
Population all Countries 43,970,000
Total Countries 18
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
People ID 11344
ROP3 Code 102140
Country Cambodia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Scattered.   Source:  Ethnologue 2020
Country Cambodia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Scattered..   Source:  Ethnologue 2020

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
40.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.55 %)
1.20 %
Ethnic Religions
54.80 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
4.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chinese, Min Nan (145,000 speakers)
Language Code nan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chinese, Min Nan (145,000 speakers)
Language Code nan   Ethnologue 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  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project  
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Read more