The Teochew are a subgroup of the Han Chinese people who primarily live in coastal eastern Guangdong in China, and represent one of the three major ethnic groups in the province. The Teochew diaspora can be found almost anywhere in the world, especially Southeast Asia, North America, Australasia and France. The diaspora, at least estimated, contains over 10 million people, which is as much as the population of Chaoshan itself. They speak a language closely related to Hokkien, and their Teochew cuisine is distinctive. Their ancestors are generally believed to have had to move to present-day Chaoshan in order to escape from a series of civil wars at the time from Central China during the Jin Dynasty.

Terms

Like other southern Han Chinese, the Teochew people can also be referred to as Huaren (simplified Chinese: 华人; traditional Chinese: 華人; pinyin: huárén) or more commonly, Tángrén (唐人, literally "the Tang people").

It is not uncommon that a Teochew person addresses other Teochew as gaginang, which means "my people" in the Teochew language.
 

Prominent Teochew people

Entrepreneurs

• Mainland China
  • Huang Guang Yu (黄光裕)(1969-; Chaoyang, Guangdong), chairman of Gome Group and the richest person in Mainland
  • Zhu Meng Yi (朱孟依)(1959-; Fengshun, Guangdong), chairman of Guangdong Zhujiang Invest, Hopson Development
  • Ma Hua Teng (马化腾) (1971-; Chaoyang, Guangdong), General Manager of Tencent Computer System Co., Ltd and creator of QQ
  • Huang Mao Ru (黄茂如) (1965-; Huilai, Guangdong), founder of Maoye Group
  • Zhou Ze Rong (周泽荣) (1955-; Chaoyang, Guangdong), founder of Kingold Group

• Hong Kong
  • Li Ka-shing (李嘉诚) (1928-; Chaozhou, Guangdong), famous for his enormous fortune, business acumen and generous charity work.
  • Lim Por Yen (林百欣) (1914-2005; Chaoyang, Guangdong), media tycoon, banker and charitarian
  • Albert Yeung (杨受成) (1959—; Chaozhou, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), founder and chief of Emperor Group
  • Joseph Lau (刘銮雄) (1951—; Chaozhou, Guangdong), founder Evergo and chief of Chinese Estates Holdings Limited
  • Vincent H. S. Lo (罗康瑞)（1948－；Puning,Guangdong）,founder of Shui On Group
  • Chuang Shih Ping (庄世平)(1911一2007;Puning,Guangdong),founder of Nanyang Commercial Ban Ltd
• Thailand
  • Xie Yi Chu（谢易初） (1896—1983; Chenghai, Guangdong), founder of Charoen Pokphand Group and charitarian
  • Dhanin Chearavanont (谢国民) (1939－; Chenghai, Guangdong), chief of Charoen Pokphand Group(Chia Tai Group)
  • Prapa Viriyaprapaikit (吴玉音) (1932－; Raoping, Guangdong), founder of Sahaviriya
  • Prachai Leophairatana (廖汉渲) (; Chaoan, Guangdong), founder and former CEO of Thai Petrochemical Industry (TPI) and TPI Polene
  • Chatri Sophonpanich (陈有汉) (1932－; Chaoyang, Guangdong), chief of BangKok Bank Public Company Limited
  • Krit Ratanarak (李智正) (－; Chenghai, Guangdong), chief of Siam City Cement Public Company Limited and Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited
  • Dr Udane Tejapaibul (郑午楼)（1913－；Chaoyang，Guangdong）,founder of Bangkok Metrepolitan Bank
  • Mongkol Kanjanapas (黄子明)（1919－；Puning,Guangdong）,chairman of Hwa Kay Thai Holdings Limited
  • Smarn Ophaswongse (胡玉麟)(1926-; Chaoan,Guangdong),one of Thailand's best-known rice traders
• Singapore
  • Lien Ying Chow (连瀛洲) (1906-2004; Chaoyang, Guangdong), founder and chief of Overseas Union Bank
  • Tang Choon Keng (董俊竞) (1901-2000; Shantou, Guangdong), founder of Tangs
• Malaysia
  • Tan Sri William Cheng (钟廷森) （－;Chaoyang,Guangdong）,chairman of The Lion Group and Parkson Retail Group Limited
• France
  • Tang Frères (陈氏兄弟,陈克威陈克光) （－;Puning,Guangdong）, founders and chief of Tang Frères

Film director

• Mainland China
  • Zheng Zhengqiu（郑正秋） (1888—1935; Chaoyang, Guangdong), famous director, and the film "Nan FU Nan Qi" (难夫难妻) directed by him was the first feature film in China's history
  • Cai Chusheng（蔡楚生） (1906-1968; Chaoyang, Guangdong), famous director, and the film "Yu Guang Qu" (渔光曲) directed by him received the first international film prize in China's history

• Hong Kong
  • Ringo Lam（林岭东） (1954—; Chaozhou, Guangdong), famous director
  • Danny Lee （李修贤） (1953—; Shantou, Guangdong), famous director and actor
  • Herman Yau（邱礼涛） (1961—; Chaozhou, Guangdong), famous director

Literary figure

• Mainland China
  • Qin Mu(秦牧)(1919-1992; Chenghai, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), famous Chinese literary figure
  • Chen Ping Yuan(陈平原)(1954-; Chaozhou, Guangdong), famous Chinese literary professor
  • Zhao Ting Yang(赵汀阳)(1961-; Shantou, Guangdong), famous Chinese philosophy researcher
  • Zhang Xiao Zhou(张晓舟)(1970-; Shantou, Guangdong), famous Chinese music critic
• Hong Kong
  • Jao Tsung-I( 饶宗颐) (1917-; Chaozhou, Guangdong), famous Chinese scholar, poet, calligrapher and painter
  • Chua Lam（蔡澜）（1941-; Chaozhou,[ [Guangdong]]）,famous columnist, food critic, movie producer

Politician

• Singapore
  • Tan Soo Khoon (1949-; Chaozhou, Guangdong; born in Singapore), former Member of the Parliament of Singapore
  • George Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts
  • Teo Chee Hean

Royal

• Thailand
  • Taksin (1734-1782; Chenghai, Guangdong; born in Thailand), king of Siam from 1768-1782

Sportsperson

• United States
  • Michael Chang (1972-; Chaozhou, Guangdong; born in the United States), former professional tennis player
• Singapore
  • Tan Howe Liang (1933-; Shantou, Guangdong), only Singaporean Olympic medallist.

Entertainers

• Mainland China
  • He Mei Tian (1983-; Chaozhou, Guangdong), actress
  • Zhou Xun (1976-; Chaozhou, Guangdong; born in Quzhou, Zhejiang), internationally recognised superstar
• Hong Kong
  • Adam Cheng (1947-; Chaoyang, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), actor and singer
  • Canti Lau (1964-; Chaoyang, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), actor and singer
  • Emil Chau (1960-; Chaoyang, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), actor and singer
  • Matthew Ko (1984-; Chaozhou, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), model
  • Rocky Cheng (1968-; Chaoyang, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), fitness trainer
  • Kwong Wah (1962-; Shantou, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), actor and singer
  • Miriam Yeung (1974-; Jieyang, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), actress and singer
  • Sammi Cheng (1972-; Chenghai, Guangdong; born in Hong Kong), actress and singer
  • Hugo Ng (1959-; Chaozhou, Guangdong; born in Singapore), actor, director and singer
• Singapore
  • Celest Chong (1975-; Chaozhou, Guangdong; born in Singapore), singer
  • Stephanie Sun (1978-; Chaozhou, Guangdong; born in Singapore), singer
• South Korea
  • Jang Yong (1945-; Chaozhou, Guangdong); born in South Korea), actor

Other

• Limahong (林凤, 15??-15??; Raoping, Guangdong), famous pirate

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