Changes Of The Chinese Society In Burma From The Early 19^th Century To The Beginning Of The 20^th Century

The immigration of Chinese into Burma has a very long history. The Chinese society in Burma underwent great transition with the constant influx of immigration from the early 19^th century to the beginning of the 20^th century. By putting the Chinese society under the context of the historical development of Burmese society, this thesis attempts to study the development of the Chinese soceity in Burma from the periods of Anglo-Burmese Wars in 1824-1826, 1852 and 1885, which consequently made Burma gradually integrated into the colonial system, to the very beginning of the 20^th century.In the meantime, the Chinese society in Burma transformed along with the dramatic changes in the social nature of Burma, in terms of origin constitute, economic activities, population distribution, relationships between social organizations, and so on.The Burmese Chinese society transited from a relatively stable stage into a period of instability, and then into a phase of integration. Alongside the interaction between immigration and trade, the network of Chinese was gradually established in Burma and subsequently became an important part of the network of Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia during the three Anglo-Burmese wars.On the basis of the dissimilarity in ways to enter into Burma due to different geographical conditions, the types of over-sea and over-land emerged among the Burmese Chinese. Originally the Burmese Chinese mainly consisted of Yunnan people, but Fujianese as well as Cantonese joined them and formed the tripartite structure. As far as the ethnic and religious composition was concerned, a large number of Panthay moved into Burma that diversified the ethnicities and religious beliefs of the Chinese in Burma. Their occupational compositions were also various owing to dissimilar native places that were distinguished by means of dressing. Thus, there were special appellations implicating their occupation, such as the'iong coats" and"short coats". In terms of the development of their associations, the issues of assimilation and re-assimilation, and their political orientation, the Chinese communities in the Upper and Lower Burma had distinctive characteristics. Taking the impact of the Anglo-Burmese Wars on the Burmese Chinese society and the importance of the Chinese in Burmese socio-economic development, the Burmese Chinese society into consideration, it can be argued that the Chinese society in Burma, as the result of the afore-mentioned wars, shifted its focus on development and its economy became imbalanced. The economic activity of the Chinese in Burma became a very dynamic and indispensible part of Burmese commercial economy. It enriched the natives' material life and helped with the exploitation of local natural resources, and eventually gave a impulse to Burmese socio-economic development.