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Burmese Chinese

*** Shopping-Tip: Burmese Chinese
Image:Bonchaungyangon.jpg thumb|250px|A ''bonchaung'' (Chinese Buddhist temple) in Lanmadaw Township, Yangon The '''Burmese Chinese''' (緬甸華人; Pinyin: Miǎndiàn huárén; Burmese language Burmese: Image:Bscript thayotlumyo.png) are a group of overseas Chinese born or raised in Myanmar (formerly Burma). Although the Chinese officially make up three percent of the population (1,078,000), this is underestimated because of intermarriages between ethnic Bamar, and because of widespread discrimination against minorities (which compels many to refer to themselves as Bamar). Traditionally, the Chinese have dominated Burmese economy, although many enterprises today are co-owned by the military.

Sub-ethnic groups
Generally, the Burmese Chinese are divided into three main groups. The first consists of Cantonese language Cantonese-speakers (Burmese language Burmese: ''ein-gyi to'', lit. short-sleeved shirts) who arrived from Guangdong Province. The largest group consists of Hokkien (dialect) Hokkien-speakers (Burmese language Burmese: ''ein-gyi shei'', lit. long-sleeved shirts), who came from Fujian Province. The third consists of Hakka language Hakka-speakers (Burmese language Burmese: ''saka'', lit. skirts). Hakkas are further subdivided into those with ancestry from Fujian Province and Guangdong Province, with each called ''ein-gyi shei ha-ka'' and ''ein-gyi to ha-ka'' respectively. The groups have different stereotypical associations. The Cantonese are commonly thought of as the poorest of the Chinese, the Hakka are stereotypically wealthier, occupying high positions in the economy, and having connections to the government, and the Hokkien are considered to be womanisers, who practise polygamy (although polygamy is rare in modern times). The ''kabya'' are of Bamar and Chinese heritage. ''Kabya'' are often children of Chinese fathers and a Bamar (Burman) mothers. They have a tendency to follow the customs of the Chinese more than of the Burmese. A large portion of Chinese have some ''kabya'' blood because Burmese citizenship can only be acquired by immigrants through intermarriage with persons of Bamar descent.

Language
The Burmese Chinese typically speak Burmese language Burmese as a mother tongue. Hokkien has quickly disappeared as a mother tongue among Burmese Chinese, while Cantonese has been well-preserved in Myanmar. For three decades, Ne Win's ban on Chinese-language schools caused declining numbers of Mandarin speakers. Chinese schools are growing in number today, because of the importance of Mandarin Chinese. Mandarin and English are considered to be the language of the elite.

History
The earliest records of Chinese migration to Myanmar were in the 1700s, when Ming Dynasty princes settled in Kokang (the northern part of present-day Myanmar). Another wave of immigration occurred in the 1800s, because of British Empire British colonialism. Britain encouraged immigration of Indians and Chinese to its colonial possessions, and such incentives and the possibility of wealth attracted many Chinese. The Chinese quickly became dominant in the highly lucrative rice and gem industries. Many became merchants. During the 1950s, Myanmar was one of the first countries to recognise the People's Republic of China as a nation. However, its own Chinese population was treated as aliens. The Burmese Chinese were issued foreign registration cards, which declared that they were citizens of China. A similar discrimination policy was set up for Burmese Indians Indians. When the Chinese Communists expelled the Kuomintang, many fled to Myanmar and Thailand over the borders of Yunnan Province. The Burmese government removed the KMT and forced them to Taiwan; those who managed to stay prospered. In 1962, Ne Win led a coup d'état and declared himself head of state. Although a ''kabya'', he banned Chinese-language education, and created other measures to compel the Chinese to leave. Ne Win's government prompted violent uprisings against the Chinese, who were terrorised by Burmese citizens. When Ne Win implemented the "Burmese Way to Socialism", a plan to nationalise all industries, the livelihoods of many entrepreneurial Chinese were destroyed. All schools were nationalised, including Chinese-language schools. Throughout the 1970s, there were anti-Chinese riots throughout the nation, which were covertly supported by the government. Many Burmese Chinese left the country during Ne Win's rule, largely because of a failing economy and widespread discrimination. Today, the majority of Burmese Chinese live in the major cities of Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi, Bago, and their surrounding areas. Although there are Chinatowns in the major cities, the Chinese are widely dispersed. The northern portion of Myanmar is flooded with mainland Chinese immigrant workers and gamblers. In Kachin State, which borders China in three directions, Mandarin language Mandarin Chinese is the lingua franca. Drugs and prostitution are rampant along the Chinese–Burmese border, and are mostly funded by mainland Chinese.

Education
Typically, the Burmese Chinese have placed a high importance on education. However, the lack of Burmese citizenship prevent many Burmese Chinese from pursuing Ph.D.s and medical degrees. During the Ne Win era, persecution of minorities caused an exodus of the highly educated workforce.Many Chinese left for the United States, Great Britain, and other westernised countries. This has caused dire problems for the Burmese economy because the current workforce is not as well-educated. Many Burmese Chinese study overseas, particularly in Thailand and Singapore.

Religion
The majority of Burmese Chinese practise Theravada Buddhism, incorporating some Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana Buddhist and Taoism Taoist beliefs. Chinese New Year celebrations, as well as other Chinese festivals, are subdued and held privately. Clan associations are often the only places where the Chinese culture is embraced. There is a small minority of Hui people Chinese Muslims (回教華人; Burmese language Burmese: Image:Bscript pantheilumyo.png, lit. "little flowers"), most of whom live in Mandalay.

Notable Burmese Chinese
* Aw Boon Haw (Hakka) - Inventor of Tiger Balm * Khun Sa (Kokang) - Major Southeast Asian druglord * Lo Hsing Han (Kokang) - Major Southeast Asian druglord * Ne Win (Hokkien) - Leader of Burma from 1960s to 1980s * U San Yu San Yu (Hakka) - President of Burma in the 1980s

External links

- Myanmar Overseas Chinese Student Association
- Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, R.O.C. Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar Chinese Category:Overseas Chinese groups

*** Shopping-Tip: Burmese Chinese