Chinese people in Myanmar

Burmese Chinese, also Sino-Burmese or Tayoke (Burmese: တရုတ်), are Burmese citizens of Han Chinese ethnicity. They are a group of overseas Chinese born or raised in Myanmar (Burma).

Burmese Chinese are a well established ethnic group and are well represented in all upper levels of Burmese society. They play a leading role in Burma's business sector and dominate the Burmese economy. They also have a strong presence in Burma's political scene with several having been major political figures, including San Yu, Khin Nyunt, and Ne Win.

Etymology

In the Burmese language, the Chinese are called Tayoke (တရုတ်, tarut, pronounced [təjoʊʔ]) and formerly spelt တရုပ် (tarup). The earliest evidence of this term dates to the Bagan Era, in the 13th century, during which it referred to the territory and a variety of peoples to the north and northeast of Myanmar. Various scholars have proposed that it comes from the Chinese term for "Turk" (突厥, Tūjué / tú jué); from the name of Dali Kingdom (大理國, Dàlǐguó); a Chinese corruption of the term Dàyuèzhī (大月支 or 大月氏), a Chinese term referring to Mongol-speaking Kushan Huns. The adoption of Tayoke as an exonym for the Han Chinese was not an established practice until the 19th century.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the term paukphaw (ပေါက်ဖော်, lit. 'sibling') was co-opted as an affectionate term for the Chinese and is now typically used in the context of diplomatic ties between China and Myanmar.