Southeast Asian Personalities Of Chinese Descent

"This is a bold project recording the lives of a particular group of Southeast Asians. Most of the people whose biographies are included here have settled down in the ten countries that constitute the region. Each of them has either self-identified as Chinese or is comfortable to be known as someone of Chinese ancestry. There are also those who were born in China or elsewhere who came here to work and do business, including seeking help from others who have ethnic Chinese connections. With the political and economic conditions of the region in a great state of flux for the past two centuries, it is impossible to find consistency in the naming process. Confucius had stressed that correct names make for the best relationships. In this case, Professor Leo Suryadinata has been pursuing for decades the elusive goal of finding the right name to give to the large numbers of people who have, in one way or another, made their homes in, or made some difference to, Southeast Asia. I believe that, when he and his colleagues selected the biographies to be included here, they have taken a big step towards the rectification of identities for many leading personalities. In so doing, he has done us all a great service." - Professor Wang Gungwu, National University of Singapore

This is a bold project recording the lives of a particular group of Southeast Asians. Most of the people whose biographies are included here have settled down in the ten countries that constitute the region. Each of them has either self-identified as Chinese or is comfortable to be known as someone of Chinese ancestry. There are also those who were born in China or elsewhere who came here to work and do business, including seeking help from others who have ethnic Chinese connections. With the political and economic conditions of the region in a great state of flux for the past two centuries, it is impossible to find consistency in the naming process. Confucius had stressed that correct names make for the best relationships. In this case, Professor Leo Suryadinata has been pursuing for decades the elusive goal of finding the right name to give to the large numbers of people who have, in one way or another, made their homes in, or made some difference to, Southeast Asia. I believe that, when he and his colleagues selected the biographies to be included here, they have taken a big step towards the rectification of identities for many leading personalities. In so doing, he has done us all a great service. - Professor Wang Gungwu, National University of Singapore

More than 80 per cent of the Chinese outside China live in Southeast Asia and many of them have been integrated into the local societies. However, the resurgence of China and ethnic Chinese investment in their ancestral land have caused concern among some non-Chinese Southeast Asian elites. They have begun to question the position and identity of the Chinese population in their countries. Ethnic Chinese as Southeast Asians addresses these ethnic Chinese issues, as well as ethnic Chinese relations with China and with indigenous groups in the region. Written by leading scholars in Southeast Asia, including both ethnic Chinese and non-Chinese, the volume also explores the position of the ethnic Chinese in contemporary as well as the future Southeast Asia, providing readers with a most up-to-date and comprehensive study on the subject.

This book addresses ethnic Chinese issues, as well as ethnic Chinese relations with China and with indigenous groups in the region.

About 80 percent of the ethnic Chinese outside China live in Southeast Asia. This book examines that community in the context of both national and international dimensions.

Comparison of Chinese minority groups in South East Asia - reviews their size, role in commerce, social integration, political participation, organization, etc. Bibliography pp. 115 to 118, map and references.

News & media coverage! Book Launch of Golden Dragon and Purple Phoenix - 3rd July 2013 Many books have been written about the Chinese in Southeast Asia, but very few, if any, are written specifically about the multi-ethnic descendants of Chinese immigrants. Golden Dragon and Purple Phoenix is not about the diaspora per se of Chinese in Southeast Asia but about the impact of intermarriage between Chinese immigrants and the natives, that is, the intermingling of blood and the offspring from such unions — the influence they wielded on the society and environment they chose to live in. It is also about how they rose to high positions and their contributions to their societies. Some rose to become kings or king makers, others to become presidents, prime ministers, senior ministers, prominent businessmen, or religious leaders. Some openly declared their ancestry and are proud of their Chinese DNA, while others have forgotten their heritage and in their fervour to prove their allegiance to their country of birth, dissociate themselves, assertively through violence, indirectly through economic sanctions and various other means. In short, the multi-ethnic Chinese descendants form a unique community with unique cultural genes of its own, and these fresh and rarely-known stories about them in this book will be a good resource for historical researchers as well as fascinating reading materials for readers in general. With 14 years' experience as a journalist and a 29-year career as a politician and diplomat, Mr. Lee Khoon Choy has set foot on every land in Southeast Asia and observed closely the local life in each country. Mindful of his Hakka identity, Mr. Lee has a keen interest in multi-ethnic Chinese descendants in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia, etc. Contents:The Lokjins in ThailandThe Mestizos of the Philippines (混血儿米斯蒂佐)The Mingling of Chinese and Javanese Blood — The Peranakan (土生华人)The Tayoke Kabya and the Kokangese in MyanmarThe Konkat-Cen in CambodiaThe Minh Huong (明乡) of VietnamSino-Laos and the Hmong (苗) in LaosBaba (峇峇) and Nyonya (娘惹) in MalaysiaWesternised SingaporeansBrunei: Land of the Smiling People Readership: General readers, academics, professionals and students who are interested in the history and culture of multi-ethnic Chinese descendants in ten Southeast Asian countries, including their language, lifestyle, influence as well as stories on prominent state leaders and business of Chinese heritage. Keywords:Southeast Asia;Mixed-Blood Chinese;CultureKey Features:Brings new knowledge about the Chinese immigrants in Southeast AsiaShowcases the differences between Chinese immigrants and their multi-ethnic descendantsBrings awareness to the large portion of younger Chinese citizens of Southeast Asia