The people of Fuzhou (Chinese: 福州人; Foochow Romanized: Hók-ciŭ-nè̤ng), also known as Fuzhounese, Foochowese, Hokchew, Hokchia, Hokchiu, Eastern Min or Mindong usually refers to people who originate from Fuzhou region and the Mindong region, adjacent Gutian County, Pingnan County, in Fujian province of China and in the Matsu Islands of Taiwan (Republic of China). Fuzhounese are Han Chinese people and are a part of Min-speaking group, who speaks Eastern Min or specifically Fuzhou dialect. There is also a significant overseas Foochowese population, particularly distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, United States (Fuzhou Americans), Japan, United Kingdom, etc.
Despite their small population size, Fuzhounese people have produced a considerable number of achievements in the science field, such as Zhang Yuzhe (the father of modern Chinese astronomy), Guo Kexin (the main pioneer of electron microscopy of China), Chih-Tang Sah, Hsien Wu, Guo Kexin and Min Zhuo.
Fuzhou's history of emigration began since the Ming dynasty with Zheng He's voyages overseas. As the result of immigration of Fuzhouese to southeast Asia, Fuzhou dialect is found in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The city of Sibu of Malaysia is called "new Fuzhou" due to a large wave of Fuzhounese immigration in the early 1900s. They are referred to as "Hockchiu" or "Hokchew" in Singapore and Malaysia.
The Hockchius and Hockchias migrated to Nanyang (South-East Asia) in smaller numbers compared to the Hokkien, Cantonese, hakkas and Hainanese but achieved remarkable success. Amongst others, Robert Kuok (Hockchiu) rose to become the "Sugar King" of Malaysia and is currently ranked the richest man in south-east Asia whereas Liem Sioe Liong (Sudono Salim) who was of Hockchia origin, was once the richest man in Indonesia, controlling a vast empire in the industry of flour, cement and food manufacturing. The famous leader of the Malayan Communist Party, Chin Peng was also Hockchia.
Fuzhounese people first started immigrating to America during the late Qing dynasty. Some of these immigrants were students who, after after completing their studies returned to back to their fatherland (Fuzhou).
After the lifting of emigration restriction from the People's Republic of China in the 1980s, a small wave of Fuzhounese settled in America. These new Fuzhounese immigrants set up their own separated communities such as "Little Fuzhou" in Manhattan, away from other non-linguistically related Chinese people.
Lin Zexu, a prominent Chinese scholar and official, widely regarded as a Chinese national hero for his strong opposition to the trade of opium before the First Anglo-Chinese War.
Shen Baozhen, Viceroy of Liangjiang from 1875 to 1879.
Chen Baochen (陈宝琛, 1848 - 1935), Chinese scholar and loyalist to the Qing Dynasty.
Wong Nai Siong, a Chinese Christian scholar.
Chen Jitong, Chinese diplomat, general and scholar during the late Qing dynasty.
Lin Shu, Chinese scholar and translator, noted for his translation of Alexandre Dumas and La Dame aux Camélias.
Zheng Xiaoxu, Chinese statesman, diplomat and calligrapher.
Liu Guanxiong, Chinese Admiral who was Navy Minister of China, from 1912–1916 and 1917-1919.
Lin Sen, President of the Republic of China from 1931 to 1943
Lin Xu (林旭, 1875 - 1898), Chinese politician, scholar, songwriter and poet who lived in the late Qing dynasty.
Du Xigui (杜錫珪, 1875 - 1933), Chinese admiral during the warlord era.
Lin Juemin (林觉民, 1887 - 1911), Chinese revolutionary, member of Tongmenghui in Japan
Yan Fu, a Chinese scholar and translator, best known for introducing western ideas such as Darwinian evolution.
Hou Debang, a Chinese chemical engineer.
Hsien Wu, a Chinese protein scientist who was the first to propose that protein denaturation was a purely conformational change, corresponded to protein unfolding and not to some chemical alteration of the protein.
Zhang Yuzhe, a Chinese astronomer who is widely regarded as the father of modern Chinese astronomy.
Chia-Chiao Lin, a mathematician and Institute Professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Tung-Yen Lin, a structural engineer who was the pioneer of standardizing the use of prestressed concrete.
Wu Mengchao, widely considered to be the Father of Chinese Hepatobiliary Surgery, for his achievements he was awarded China's highest scientific prize in 2005 by President Hu Jintao.
Guo Kexin, an important Chinese physicist, metallurgist and crystallographer who is considered as the main pioneer of electron microscopy of China.
Chih-Tang Sah, Graduate Research Professor at the University of Florida, USA from 1988. Professor of Physics and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Chen Jingrun, a famous Chinese mathematician who invented the Chen's theorem and Chen prime.
Liu Yingming, a mathematician and academician.
Chen Zhangliang, a Chinese biologist, elected as vice-governor of Guangxi in 2007.
Min Zhuo, a pain neuroscientist at the University of Toronto in Canada, he won many prestogious awards for his outstanding scientific achievements.
Zheng Zhenduo, a Chinese journalist and literary scholar
Bing Xin, a female Chinese writer
Wang Wenxing, Chinese Americna writer.
Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian author and church leader
Liem Sioe Liong, a Chinese Indonesian billionaire businessman and founder of Salim Group
Robert Kuok, a Malaysian billionaire businessman and chairman of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Surya Wonowidjojo (Tjoa Ing-hwie), the founder of Gudang Garam, the largest cigaret producer in Indonesia.
Rachman Halim, second CEO of Gudang Garam.
Tiong Hiew King, a Malaysian Executive Chairman of Rimbunan Hijau, Timber tycoon and Chinese Media proprietor.
Tiong Thai King, a Malaysian politician and businessman, Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Lanang, Sibu, Sarawak from 1995-2013.
Alim Markus, Indonesian businessman from East Java.
Chin Peng, OBE, the Former leader of the Malayan Communist Party
Ling Liong Sik, a Chinese Malaysian]] politician; former president of the Malaysian Chinese Association and former Minister of Transport.
Ngeh Koo Ham, a Chinese Malaysian politician and lawyer.
Nga Kor Ming, a Chinese Malaysia politician of Democratic Action Party (DAP), Member of the Malaysian Parliament of Taiping, Perak since 2008.
Wu Qingyuan, a Chinese Weiqi/Go player, considered by many players to be the greatest player of the game in the 20th century and one of the greatest of all time.
Jahja Ling, a famous Orchestra conductor.
Lin Huiyin, a female Chinese architect and wife of architect Liang Sicheng.
Lin Yaohua famed Chinese sociologist and anthropologist.
Nicholas Kao Se Tseien , the oldest living Catholic priest in China and Hong Kong.
Cheng Nan-jung, a Taiwanese publisher and pro-democracy activist.
