- Joined
- Aug 10, 2008
- Messages
- 779
- Points
- 0
if it is ambiguous to you, that's becasue you are trying too hard
The more you poke your head up, the more familiar you are.
Oops! need to edit to add in two words of greeting! Ah Chek!
if it is ambiguous to you, that's becasue you are trying too hard
not really, cantonese can only be abt 1500 years old at most from the time of the tang dynasty
Teochew people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the Teochew dialect of Min Nan Chinese, see Teochew dialect.
Teochew people
潮州人
Total population
estimated 25-30 million worldwide
Regions with significant populations
Greater China (Guangdong, Hong Kong), Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia), North America (US, Canada), Australasia (Australia, New Zealand), France
Languages
Teochew + language(s) of their country of residence
Religion
Predominantly Buddhism (Theravada and Mahayana), Taoism, Confucianism and Traditional Chinese religions. Small Christianity.
Related ethnic groups
Hoklo people (Hokkien)
Teochew people
Chinese: 潮州人
Literal meaning: tide people
[show]Transliterations
Mandarin
- Hanyu Pinyin: Cháo-zhōu-rén
Min
- Hokkien POJ: Tiô-chiu-lâng
Cantonese
- Jyutping: Ciu4-zau1-jan4
The Teochew are a subgroup of the Han Chinese people who primarily live in coastal eastern Guangdong in China, and represent one of the three major ethnic groups in the province. The Teochew diaspora can be found almost anywhere in the world, especially Southeast Asia, North America, Australasia and France. The diaspora, at least estimated, contains over 10 million people, which is as much as the population of Chaoshan itself. They speak a language closely related to Hokkien, and their Teochew cuisine is distinctive. The ancestors of the Teochew people moved to present-day Chaoshan from the Central Plains of China in order to escape from a series of civil wars during the Jin Dynasty.
Contents [hide]
1 Terms
2 Culture
3 Prominent Teochew people
3.1 Entrepreneurs
3.2 Film directors
3.3 Literary figures
3.4 Politicians
3.5 Sportspeople
3.6 Entertainers
3.7 Other
4 See also
4.1 External links
[edit] Terms
Teochew can be romanised in a variety of schemes, and are known in Mandarin as Chaozhou ren and Cantonese as Chiuchao yan. In referring to themselves as ethnic Chinese, Teochew people generally use Tang nang (唐人; Mandarin: Tangren), literally Tang Dynasty people, as opposed to Han nang (漢人/汉人; Mandarin: Hanren), which means 'Han Dynasty people'. Teochew people of the diaspora would generally use Hua nang (華人/华人; Mandarin: Huaren) to indicate Chinese heritage in a cultural sense.
Teochew people also commonly refer to each other as ga gi nang (自己人; Mandarin: zijiren) which means 'our own people'[1].
To situate the term into a contemporary sociocultural context, Teochew people in Chaoshan of today refer to themselves as Chaoshan people, rather than Teochew people.
[edit] Culture
Teochew culture is indispensable in constructing the single cultural entity in Guangdong Province, and is known worldwide as a unique part of world heritage. Throughout the lengthy history of over 1000 years, the region of Chaoshan, anciently named Teochew Prefecture, has bred and evolved a prestigious culture, which manifests its unique characteristics in language, opera, cuisine, tea practice, music and embroidery.
Chaozhou Dialect (潮州話), in/through which Teochew culture is conveyed, is considered one of the oldest Chinese dialects for it preserves many elegant and refined features from ancient Chinese that have been lost in some counterparts. It is spoken by roughly 10 million people in Chaoshan and more than 5 million outside the Chinese mainland.
Chaozhou OperaTeochew opera (潮劇) is a traditional art form which has a history of more than 500 years and is now loved by 20 million Teochew people in over 20 countries and regions. Based on the local folk dances and ballads, Teochew opera has formed its own style under the influence of Nanxi Opera. Nanxi is one of the oldest Chinese operas that originated in the Song Dynasty. Its tunes are graceful and pleasant, full of local colour. The old form of choral accompaniment still preserves its special features. Clowns and females are the most distinctive characters in a Teochew opera, and fan-playing and acrobatic skills are more prominent than in other types of performances.
Gongfu tea (工夫茶), the 'espresso' of Chinese teas with a formidable kick, which was first sipped back in the Song Dynasty, is still flourishing and standing as an important part of social etiquette in Chaoshan. It is not uncommon that the tea ritual is practised in an ordinary Teochew household on a day-to-day basis. Although it tastes bitter when it first reaches the mouth, it is the lingering aftertaste that makes Ganghu tea probably the most charming tea culture in China. Drinking Ganghu tea, in this sense, is a form of art rather than an antidote to thirst.
Teochew music (潮州音樂) is popularly played in Chaoshan's teahouse scene. The Teochew string instrument, gong, drum and traditional Chinese flute, are typically involved in the form of ensemble. The current Chaozhou drum music is said to be similar to the form of the Drum and Wind Music of the Han and Tang Dynasties
the truth must be told. mandarin is just another dialect.
Teochew ppl come from guang zhou or something but their dialect sounds similar to the fujian or hokkien province.
You are right I exaggerated. Buts here is the stuff i got from internet. But my point is Cantonese has a much older history than Mandarin and the richness of its words, phrases and idioms far far more advanced that Mandarin. In my opionion Cantonese is far superior in that aspect.
Although Mandarin (or putonghua) is the standard and official language in mainland China, it has only been around for about 700 or 800 years, compared to the 2000-year history of Cantonese.
About Cantonese
Cantonese (or Yue) is one of the five major Chinese languages. These are often called "dialects", but in actuality their differences are great enough to consider them separate languages.
Cantonese is spoken by about 100 million people in the southern provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi and in neighboring areas such as Hong Kong and Macao, as well as throughout South-East Asia in such places as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Due to the migration of Cantonese speakers from Hong Kong and the Guangdong area, Cantonese is the dominant form of Chinese spoken in the Chinatowns of many major cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and elsewhere.
The word Cantonese comes from Canton, the former English name of Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, which was once considered the home of the purest form of Cantonese. However, through years of mass media and pop culture influence, Hong Kong has now truly become the cultural centre of Cantonese.
Although Mandarin (or putonghua) is the standard and official language in mainland China, it has only been around for about 700 or 800 years, compared to the 2000-year history of Cantonese. Cantonese, not Mandarin, is the dominant language in overseas Chinese communities. This comes from the fact that, around the world, the largest flow of Chinese immigrants originates from Hong Kong.
Teochew ppl come from guang zhou or something but their dialect sounds similar to the fujian or hokkien province.
Yup Bro Ja, I'm busy at the moment. I'm hunting for reptiles!:p
LIterally or figurtively?
Like an apparition forming in the mist, I'm seeing a reptilian form, one usually found in mudflats! The same obnoxious conceit!.........Hmmmmm................
Alas, he who saw the misty form
at its mirror was he looking from
be gone now little wriggly worm
obnoxious is thy daily norm
Yup Bro Ja, I'm busy at the moment. I'm hunting for reptiles!:p
oh, he who seeks a reptilian hunt
is but eyeing for a lofty punt
yet the price is heavy and the truth is blunt
this is still time you better run
Go figure! There is a Chinese saying, between enemies, the road always narrows.........
No need to exert too much!
Ah Chek! Lu kong simi lan jiao!
oh, the road is narrow
and for you it's sorrow
for your mind is hollow
and I left you yellow
Ah Chek ah! Lu ko kong simi lan jiao?
Ko wu boh? Kindergarten poetry!
plenty more for the rodent chap
who merrily falls into my trap
there is no way out even with a map
let us see him take the rap