Fuzhou people

The people of Fuzhou (Chinese: 福州人; Foochow Romanized: Hók-ciŭ-nè̤ng), also known as Foochowese, Hokchew, Hokchia, Hokchiu and Fuzhounese, usually refers to people who originate from Fuzhou region and adjacent Gutian County, Pingnan County in Fujian province of China and in the Matsu Islands of Taiwan (Republic of China). Foochowese are predominantly of Han Chinese origin and are a part of Min-speaking group, who speaks Eastern Min language or specifically Fuzhou dialect. There is also a significant overseas Foochowese population, particularly distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, United States, Japan, United Kingdom, etc.

Emigration

Fuzhou's history of emigration since Ming dynasty with Zheng He's voyages overseas. As the result of immigration of Fuzhouese to southeast Asia, Fuzhou dialect is found in Malaysia and Indonesia. The city of Sibu of Malaysia is called "new Fuzhou" due to immigration wave in early 1900s. They are referred to as "Hockchiu" in Malaysia.

The Hockchius and Hockchias migrated to Nanyang (South-East Asia) in smaller numbers compared to the Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew, Hokkien and Hainan but achieved remarkable success. Amongst others, Robert Kuok (Hockchiu) rose to become the "Sugar King" of Malaysia and is currently ranked the richest man in south-east Asia whereas Liem Sioe Liong (Sudono Salim) who was of Hockchia origin, was once the richest man in Indonesia, controlling a vast empire in the industry of flour, cement and food manufacturing. The famous leader of the Malayan Communist Party, Chin Peng was also Hockchia.

Subgroups

• Native Fuzhou people / Foochowese Han (福州儂 / 福州漢族)
• She people in Fuzhou (畲婆)
• Fuzhou Tanka (曲蹄)
• Manchu people in Fuzhou (旗下囝)
• Recent Chinese migrants to Fuzhou and their descendants (兩個聲; Lâng-gá-siăng; [laŋ21 ŋa21 liaŋ55])

Famous Fuzhou figures

• Lin Zexu (林则徐, 1785 - 1850), Chinese scholar and official, considered a national hero for his strong opposition to the trade of opium before the First Anglo-Chinese War
• Shen Baozhen (沈葆桢, 1820 - 1879), Viceroy of Liangjiang from 1875 to 1879
• Chen Baochen (陈宝琛, 1848 - 1935), Chinese scholar and loyalist to the Qing Dynasty
• Wong Nai Siong (黄乃裳, 1849 - 1924), Chinese Christian scholar
• Chen Jitong (陈季同，1851 - 1907), Chinese diplomat, general and scholar during the late Qing dynasty
• Lin Shu (林纾, 1852 - 1924), Chinese scholar and translator, most famous for his translation of Alexandre Dumas' La Dame aux Camélias
• Yan Fu (严复, 1854 - 1921), Chinese scholar and translator, best known for introducing western ideas such as Darwinian evolution
• Sa Zhenbing (萨镇冰, 1859 - 1952), high-ranking naval officer of Mongolian origin
• Zheng Xiaoxu (郑孝胥, 1860 - 1938), Chinese statesman, diplomat and calligrapher.
• Liu Guanxiong (刘冠雄, 1861 - 1927), Chinese Admiral who was Navy Minister of China, from 1912–1916 and 1917-1919.
• Lin Sen (林森, 1868 - 1943), President of the Republic of China from 1931 to 1943
• Lin Xu (林旭, 1875 - 1898), Chinese politician, scholar, songwriter and poet who lived in the late Qing dynasty.
• Du Xigui (杜錫珪, 1875 - 1933), Chinese admiral during the warlord era.
• Lin Changmin (林长民, 1876 - 1925), Chinese politician, Diplomat, and Academic.
• Lin Juemin (林觉民, 1887 - 1911), Chinese revolutionary, member of Tongmenghui in Japan
• Hou Debang (侯德榜, 1890 - 1974), Chinese chemical engineer
• Zheng Zhenduo (郑振铎, 1898 - 1958), Chinese journalist and literary scholar
• Bing Xin (冰心, 1900 - 1999), female Chinese writer
• Zhang Yuzhe (张钰哲, 1902 - 1986), Chinese astronomer who is widely regarded as the father of modern Chinese astronomy.
• Watchman Nee (倪柝声, 1903 - 1972), Chinese Christian author and church leader
• Lin Huiyin (林徽因, 1904 - 1955), female Chinese architect and writer
• Tung-Yen Lin, (林同炎, pinyin: Lín Tóngyán) (November 14, 1912 – November 15, 2003) was a structural engineer who was the pioneer of standardizing the use of prestressed concrete.
• Wu Qingyuan (吳清源, 1914 - 2014), Chinese Weiqi/Go player, considered by many players to be the greatest player of the game in the 20th century and one of the greatest of all time. He is living in Japan.
• Liem Sioe Liong (林绍良, 16 July 1916 – 10 June 2012), Indonesian billionaire businessman and founder of Salim Group
• Robert Kuok (郭鶴年, 1923- ), Malaysian billionaire businessman and chairman of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
• Chin Peng (陈平, 1924 - 2013), OBE, Famous former leader of the Malayan Communist Party
• Chen Jingrun (陈景润, 1933 - 1996), Chinese mathematician who made significant contributions to number theory
• Ling Liong Sik (林良实, 1943- ), Malaysian politician; former president of the Malaysian Chinese Association and former Minister of Transport.
• Surya Wonowidjojo (Tjoa Ing-hwie) (蔡云辉, 1923 - 1986), founder of Gudang Garam, the largest cigaret producer in Indonesia.
• Chih-Tang Sah (萨支唐, 1932- ), Graduate Research Professor at the University of Florida, USA from 1988. Professor of Physics and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• Tiong Hiew King (张晓卿, 1935- ), Malaysian Executive Chairman of Rimbunan Hijau, Timber tycoon and Chinese Media proprietor.
• Tiong Thai King (张泰卿, 1945- ), Malaysian politician and businessman, Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Lanang, Sibu, Sarawak from 1995-2013.
• Alim Markus (林文光, Liem Boen Kwang, 1951- ), Indonesian businessman from East Java.
• Jahja Ling, (林望傑, 1951- ) a famous orchestra conductor.
• Chen Zhangliang (陈章良, 1962- ), Chinese biologist, elected as vice-governor of Guangxi in 2007
• Ngeh Koo Ham (倪可汉, 1961- ), Malaysian politician and lawyer.
• Nga Kor Ming (倪可敏, 1972- ), Malaysian politician of Democratic Action Party (DAP), Member of the Malaysian Parliament of Taiping, Perak since 2008.

See also

• Fuzhou Tanka
• Eastern Min Language
• Fuzhou dialect