Chinese Nicaraguan

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Chinese Nicaraguans (Simplified Chinese: 尼加拉瓜华人 Pinyin: ní jiā lā guā huá rén Spanish: Chino-Nicaraguense) are Nicaraguans of Chinese ancestry. The Chinese first arrived in Nicaragua's Atlantic coast, where most settled in cities such as Bluefields, El Bluff, Laguna de Perlas, and Puerto Cabezas.^[1] Then in the late 19th century began migrating to the Pacific lowlands of the country.^[2]

1 History
- 1.1 Migrating to the Pacific Coast
2 Notable persons
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The Chinese were thought to have arrived in Nicaragua in the late 19th century, the majority of which came from China's Guangdong province.^[3] They were unsubstantiated until the second census (in 1920) revealed 400 citizens of Chinese nationality. According to documents the population of Puerto Cabezas in the R.A.A.N. department was formed not only by the Miskito but the indigenous communities of the Jamaicans, Germans and also the Chinese in 1925. The first Chinese consul came to Nicaragua in 1930.^[4] Shortly after World War II large quantities of Chinese began arriving in Nicaragua, but during the 1979 Sandinista revolution many fled to nearby Honduras Costa Rica, and the USA.^[5]

Arlen Siu, martyr of the Sandinista revolution.

[edit] Migrating to the Pacific Coast

Chinese retailers had begun heading to the Pacific side of Nicaragua and therefore started to settle in the cities of Managua, Granada, Leon, and Masaya at the end of the 19th century. The majority of Chinese who immigrated to Nicaragua were men, many of whom converted to Christianity, and married the native Nicaraguan women, introducing the country with last names such as:

Lau, Sujo, Chang, Cheng, Siu, Law, Quant, Chow, Chiong, Kuan, Wong, Samqui, Saint and Loyman

All of which represent the descendants of the first immigrants today. It is approximated that the Taiwanese are decedents of 15 families.^[6] Also, there are an estimated 7,000 people who speak Chinese.^[7]

[edit] Notable persons

Arlen Siu - A Martyr of the FSLN.
Gilberto Wong - Presidential Spokesman of Nicaragua
Vilma Rosa Leon York - Vice Minister of Federal Depository Agency; & of Education
Mayling Montero Lau - Queen of the Chinese Associations of Central America.