砂拉越福州人社会及其结构分析(1900-1941)

The Foochows of Sarawak from 1900 to 1941:A Study of Social Structure

20世纪初,福州人在黄乃裳的带领下来到诗巫,其集体移民的方式和以基督徒为主的移民构成在马来西亚华人移民史上独树一帜。随着福州人在砂拉越的发展,这些特点也对其社会结构产生了深远影响:人口结构方面,男女比例和年龄结构较为均衡;职业分布上,由以橡胶种植为主向其它行业逐步扩展;社会生活方面,美以美会扮演了教化组织、政治和经济组织的角色,进而形成了一个以华人基督徒为主导的移民社会;领导层方面,除了财富这一基本要素外,社会及政治活动对领袖地位的获得也起到了重要作用。

In the early 20 th century,Foochows arrived in Sibu under the leadership of Wong Nai Siong. The pioneers came as a community and mainly consisted of Christians,which makes them special in the history of Malaysia Overseas Chinese immigration.These features also have a significant impact on the social structure of the settlers as the development of the Foochows. In the demographic structure,the sex and age ratio are relatively balanced;in the occupational structure,they concentrated on planting rubber in the early time,then extended to other occupations.The Methodist played a very important role in the social life and formed a immigrant society which was dominated by the Chinese Christians. Besides wealth,public activities and political positions were also crucial factors in gaining accessto the leadership.