The Chinese

The Chinese in Singapore, an ethnic group that has loose roots in China, make up the majority of the population in Singapore today. After its founding by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, Singapore grew very quickly and its population blossomed. Notably, the population of Chinese inhabitants mushroomed as the new British settlement attracted large numbers of Chinese immigrants and by 1829, the Chinese were the largest group of people in Singapore.

The large influx of Chinese to Singapore led to the establishment of a large number of Chinese associations, schools, and temples in Singapore and within a century, the Chinese immigrants exceeded the population of the Malays. The Chinese in Singapore today commonly view themselves as Singaporeans rather than Chinese and many have married outside their ethnic group.

The population of Singaporean Chinese currently stands at slightly more than 3 million out of a total of about 4 million, or about 76.8% of the population, or approximately three out of four Singaporeans, making them the largest ethnic group in Singapore.

Origins

Most of the Chinese in Singapore belong to several linguistic-cultural groups, originating from mainly the southern regions of China, predominantly Fujian and Guangdong provinces. The Hokkien, Teochew and Hainanese form more than three-quarters of the Chinese population. The Cantonese, Hakka and other groups make up for most of the remainder. These are generally the descendants of the migrants from southern China during the 19th and early half of 20th century (first and second wave of migration) and are typically known as “local Singaporean Chinese”. The 1990s and early 21st century saw Singapore experiencing a third wave of new Chinese migration from different parts of China.

Hokkien

The Hokkiens constitute around 41% of the Chinese Singaporean population. Most originated from districts such as Anxi, Nanan, Huian, Jinjiang, Xiamen and Jinmen in China’s Fujian province.

Many Hokkiens had left China due to rural poverty, overcrowding and insufficient land for farming. When they arrived in Singapore, the Hokkiens settled in the business areas around the Singapore River and were active in sea trade where they traded spice, coffee, rubber, flour, fodder, tea, hardware, building materials, textiles, tropical fruits and rice. For centuries, they traded with the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaya and Thailand, and along the whole length of the Chinese coast. Other than trading, the Hokkiens were also dominant in banking, finance, insurance, shipping and manufacturing and engaged in the building and construction industry as well.

Some prominent Hokkiens such as Tan Kah Kee, Lee Kong Chian and Tan Lark Sye were involved in several businesses, including pineapple canning, rubber plantations, banking, shipping and manufacturing.

Teochew

Making up about 21% of the Chinese population in Singapore today, the Teochews generally settled in the northern part of Singapore, specifically in Sembawang, Upper Thomson and Punggol in the early days. Living near the sea gave them an opportunity to work as fishermen, boatmen, fishmongers and fish wholesalers or retailers. Many Teochews became kelong owners and eventually controlled the kelong industry in Singapore.

Another concentration of Teochews was along the banks of the Singapore River, especially along Boat Quay. This group became involved in trade of sundry goods, textiles, gambier, pepper and other tropical produce. Apart from trading, the Teochews were also involved in the planting of gambier and pepper.

In the late 1840s, the Teochews made up over 95% of the Chinese gambier and pepper planters and coolies. One of the largest plantation owners was Teochew merchant Seah Eu Chin. He is believed to be the first to have started the macro planting of gambier and pepper in Singapore.

Cantonese

The Cantonese, who make up 15% of the Chinese Singaporean population today, has its roots in the Guangdong province of China. They came to Singapore very early and installed themselves in various trades, most notably as artisans or craftsmen, so it’s no surprise that some of the most skilled carpenters, mechanics, goldsmiths, carvers and paperwork craftsmen in Singapore today are Cantonese.

Many medicine wholesalers and retailers are also Cantonese. A famous example is Eu Kong, the founder of Eu Yan Sang, one of the largest distributors of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Asia.

In the early days, it was unusual for Chinese women to hold jobs outside their homes, but Cantonese women did. Cantonese men were noted for their more liberal treatment of women, so Cantonese women could find work outside their homes, unlike their Hokkien, Teochew and Hainanese counterparts. The Cantonese samsui women, for example, are best remembered for their significant work as labourers in Singapore’s construction industry in the 1950s and 1960s.

Hainanese

The early Hainanese immigrants were late arrivals compared to the Hokkiens, Teochews, Cantonese and Hakkas and came to Singapore only in the 1850s. As late migrants, the Hainanese had to find employment in less lucrative trades since the Hokkiens, Teochews and Cantonese were already well entrenched in agriculture, commerce and trade. As a result, they ended up carving a niche for themselves in the service sector, working as cook boys, waiters or servants in the local hotels, restaurants, bakeries and bars and as cooks or domestic servants for wealthy European and Peranakan households.

Later, many Hainanese became involved in the kopitiam or “coffee shop” business as stall holders or assistants. In fact, the Hainanese community has been credited with introducing the kopitiam culture to Singapore.

In Singapore, the Hainanese are invariably associated with the food and beverage industry, and this is where they have found the most regional fame. Ngiam Tong Boon, the bartender at Raffles Hotel who concocted the cocktail drink now widely known as “The Singapore Sling”, was a Hainanese.

At 51-53 Middle Road (now demolished), Wong Yi Guan adapted a rice dish served with chicken which was later made famous by his apprentice Mok Fu Swee through his restaurant, Swee Kee Chicken Rice. This dish has since been exported to the region as Hainanese Chicken Rice. It is generally acknowledged that the Hainanese brew the best coffee in the kopitiams of Southeast Asia. Some have turned their kopitiam business into successful franchises such as Ya Kun Toast, founded by a Hainanese named Loi Ah Koon in 1944.

Hakka

The Hakkas, who constitute 11.4% of the Chinese Singaporean population, originate from Southern China, like the other Chinese language groups in Singapore. Many Hakka women who came to Singapore during the early 20th century worked in construction sites and wore headgear similar to the Samsui women. However, unlike the Samsui women, the Hakka women wore black, rather than red headgear.

Languages spoken by Chinese Singaporeans

Although English is the main language of Singapore, Mandarin is generally spoken as the common language amongst Chinese Singaporeans. Since 2000, the usage of Chinese dialects at home has declined, while Mandarin had become more popular as the predominant home language of Chinese Singaporeans.

Religion

According to a recent census, 42.5% of Singapore’s Chinese population declared themselves to be Buddhist, 8.5% Taoist, 14.6% Christian and 14.8% non-religious. The Chinese form the vast majority in these four groups, due to their dominance in Singapore.