History Penangite Chinese

chinese merchants , carriages outside club house on penang island, 1881.



a chinese theater in penang in 1897.



chinese school girls in lantern procession in penang in 1937.

chinese sailors had explored seas off penang island 15th century. during ming dynasty, chinese seafarers led admiral zheng sailed length of malacca straits; penang island may have appeared in nautical charts of zheng he.

however, sometime in 18th century when chinese began arrive on penang island. recorded fishing village of tanjung tokong on northern coast of island founded zhang li, sailor arrival on penang island preceded of captain francis light @ least few decades.

after british east india company under captain francis light founded george town in 1786, ethnic chinese began move penang in increasing numbers. in particular, peranakans, had established along western coast of malay peninsula, shifted penang. this, coupled greater number of newer immigrants china throughout 19th century, made chinese largest ethnic group in penang 1850s.

at time, there differences between straits chinese, term included peranakans, , new chinese arrivals, known sinkeh (新客; new guest). having resided generations within malay peninsula, straits chinese typically spoke creole consisting of hokkien , malay, gradually grew penang hokkien. peranakans had developed distinct hybrid culture infusing malay , chinese influences, , more loyal british crown chinese mainland, earning sobriquet, king s chinese . on other hand, of newer china-born sinkeh started off penniless , held onto chinese roots more strongly. whereas straits chinese more anglophile due english education system in penang, china-born sinkeh go on form first chinese schools in penang.

chinese new year decorations @ kek lok si temple, penang.

as penang grew major entrepôt towards end of 19th century, influx of various cultures , religions create melting pot multi-ethnic , multi-religious society exist in harmony. similarly, on time, newer chinese arrivals became acculturated existing local culture , customs due intermarriages between peranakans , sinkeh . @ turn of century, chinese nationalist sun yat-sen s campaigns liberate china imperial manchu rule attracted considerable financial support penang s chinese population. during world war ii, ethnic chinese in penang suffered brutal , violent treatment in hands of occupying imperial japanese army. japanese implemented policy known sook ching, systematic purge of perceived hostile elements, including chinese. thousands of chinese massacred , buried in unmarked mass graves throughout penang during japanese occupation period.