Chinese Cambodians

Population 500,000 Major Chinese Reli- Religion gion, Animism Language Several Chi- nese Dialects Percent Christian Less than 1%

Bible Yes Translation

However, during the celebrations Who are the ? most Chinese will stop doing business for 3 or 4 days hinese Cambodians are a group of ethnic minori- to celebrate with their families and travel. ties of Chinese descent living in . Chinese food, traditional medicines, decora- There are actually 5 different ethno-linguistic C tions and religious paraphernalia are found in groups among Chinese Cambodians which include Teochew, , , Hakka and Hain- abundance in . Chinese noodle anese, the majority having Teochew ethnicity. These shops and cafés cover the city and are enjoyed by Chinese peoples began to immigrate to Cambodia Chinese and Khmer alike. as early as the 3rd century, coming in waves due to wars, political pressures and economic hardships. What do they believe? Over the years many of the Chinese intermar- Chinese Cambodians hold to traditional Chinese ried with the Khmer and were absorbed into religious practices, ancestral worship, demon venera- Khmer culture, introducing Chinese customs and tion and . It is not uncommon beliefs into Khmer society. But there remains a to find an entire wall in their homes covered with community of Chinese Cambodians who speak altars to a pantheon of gods, as well as food sacrifices Khmer, yet have retained the distinctiveness of and burning in their shops. Even though their own language and culture. religious beliefs are expressed in a variety of ways, the During the regime true god of the Chinese is money. (1975–1979), the sought to per- It is out of fear, not love, that Chinese Cambodi- secute and purge the Chinese from Cambodian ans serve these gods, for to not offer sacrifices and society. Attempting to escape extermination, burn incense to them is to invite disaster – pov- many Chinese fled to neighboring Vietnam, while erty, sickness and bad luck. others tried to mix with Cambodian villagers, pass- ing themselves off as peasants. What are their needs? In 1979, the Chinese returned and settled Although economically more stable than average, primarily in the population centers of the country, nearly all Chinese Cambodians have not heard a particularly Phnom Penh. clear presentation the gospel. Demonic strongholds and searching for wealth have been strong barriers, What are their lives like? causing the good news to fall on deaf ears. Pray Nearly all Chinese Cambodians are involved in a that God would send laborers to work specifically business of one sort or another, ranging from small with these people, breaking through the spiritual, family-based shops to large companies. The vast economic and linguistic barriers that have kept them majority of Chinese own retail sales shops, having isolated. converted their homes into street-side stores or sell- ing in small market stalls. Most Chinese do business day in and day out without taking time off for rest, working from early morning to well into the evening.

26 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA