Course:

HIST 212-014

Group number: 5
Student Name: Leong Un Kei, Eunice (A-B12121-3)
Wang Qin, Stefan (B-B10049-2)
Ip Un Ian, Amber (E-B22959-8)
Tam Kit I, Avery (S-B21923-0)
Che Weng Ian, Yan (E-B22958-9)
Teacher:

Dr. Wong Wei Chin

Date:

November, 2014

Topic 1: Compare and contrast the push and pull factors that caused about the mass migration of
Chinese from south China to Southeast Asia in the early modern period and the modern period

There were several mass Chinese migrations from south China to Southeast Asia happening
in early modern period and modern period. It was usually influenced by a lot of push and pull
factors which were largely related to the context in China and Southeast Asia at that time. We
will examine the factors in each period of time, and find out the similarity and difference of the
factors between these two periods. .
There were several problems in Chinese society and policy in the early modern period.
Firstly, the Manchus conquest in 1644 caused thousands of Chinese political refugees to flee to
Southeast Asia countries such as Myanmar. Moreover, the armed regiments of fleeing Chinese
were allowed to settle in undeveloped frontier territory. Secondly, the encouragement of fertility
by the Qing dynasty resulted in the rapid population growth. Due to the land shortage and
poverty, migration became a family survival strategy for laborers and sojourning merchants.

Thirdly, the tax farming policy greatly reduced the income of farmers. In order to get rid of
extrusion, the farmers tended to leave China. Finally, the ban of maritime trade and coastal
residence caused an obstacle mainly to those maritime merchants who sought to return home.
In Southeast Asia, the built up of mines and plantations after colonization by Portuguese,
Dutch and Spanish provided many job opportunities. Payment with silver even attracted the
Chinese more. Moreover, because of the burgeoning international trade between Asia and
Europe, many southern Chinese merchants (especially Hokkiens) migrated to Southeast Asia for
trading. They extracted money from indigenous citizens and earned from colonizers by serving
them. Most of them were even wealthier than the colonialists. Besides earning the property in
Southeast Asia, Chinese merchant-middlemen were valued and protected by colonizer through
having a higher social class. It was attractive for those who wanted to escape from the original
regime.
There were many discouraging factors that push people to leave their hometown in China in
modern period. Firstly, the society was in an unrest condition due to several wars, such as the
Taiping rebellion and the invasion of foreign countries. Besides, two big famines occurred in
1907 and 1958 claimed millions of lives. Lastly, the economy was very worse. It was difficult to
find a job in South China. Due to all these reasons, people in south China tended to leave China
to look for a better place to live.
Only the contrary, the situation in Southeast Asia was much better than in China. After the
World War II, many countries became independent with implemented the administrative reform
and democratic election. This movement attracted more immigrants from South China because
they had more opportunities and freedom to speak for them or fight for themselves. Secondly,
most countries had achieved independence in Southeast Asia successfully. People started to

establish their own business which mainly relies on manufacture. Many job opportunities were
provided and labor forces were required. Lastly is the Urbanization. People migrated because of
expected improvements in Southeast Asia, where improvements might include better standard of
living, education, social welfare and higher wages.
In both early modern period and modern period, the push factors are mainly related to the
condition of the society. Because of the upheaval environment, people were forced to leave their
hometown, and looked for a better living environment. But the political factors, such as the ban
of maritime trade by Qing dynasty, only occurred in the early modern period. Regarding the pull
factors, the high demand of labor was the main reason which attracted people to migrate to
Southeast Asia in both early modern period and modern period. However, we can find out that
the economic factor which is the hunger of silver was exclusively happened in the early modern
period.
In conclusion, by examining the migration happened in early modern and modern period, we
think that both push and pull factors play an important role in the migration process. On one side,
the push factors in birthplace forced you to leave. On the other side, the pull factors attract you to
go to the destination country.