Bangkok: The film "Letters to Grandma" not only created a tearjerker phenomenon in many countries, but also sparked important questions about the roots of the Chinese community in Thailand, particularly in Bangkok's Chinatown (Yaowarat), exploring why this area has become one of the strongest centers of Teochew Chinese culture in Southeast Asia.
According to Thai News Agency, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sompop Manarangsarn explained that while Hokkien Chinese were among the first groups to migrate out of Thailand during the 14th-15th centuries and spread across the ASEAN islands such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, Teochew Chinese chose to settle in the mainland ASEAN region, with Thailand as its center. The reason Teochew became a large Chinese population group in Thailand is partly due to their social connections and networks. When a group of people speaking the same language had already settled there, later generations who migrated in search of work would join these groups to facilitate communication and mutual assistance.
The history of Chinese migration is closely linked to the policies of the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Ming dynasty, the tribute system was implemented to monopolize trade by the state and prohibit private merchants from trading. This led to a mass emigration of Chinese people from coastal cities like Fujian and Guangdong (including Teochew) in search of economic opportunities. The intensity of this migration peaked during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty, when he implemented a policy of relocating people several kilometers from the coast to cripple rebel groups who had established a government-in-exile in Taiwan. This left a massive number of Chinese people living along the coast homeless, forcing them to sail south to Southeast Asia.
The oldest surviving Chinatown in the world is Binondo in Manila, founded in 1594. In Thailand, Bangkok's Chinese community dates back to the founding of Bangkok in 1782. Originally, the Chinese, mostly Hokkien from the Ayutthaya period, lived in the Tha Tien area. However, when King Rama I moved the capital from Thonburi to Phra Nakhon and wanted to build the Grand Palace there, he ordered the Chinese to relocate to a new area: "Sampheng" (from the mouth of Wat Sam Pluem canal to Soi Wanich 1). This became the beginning of Thailand's largest Chinese trading district.
Another important factor contributing to the significant role of the Teochew people was during the reign of King Taksin the Great, whose father was of Teochew Chinese. In that era, Teochew Chinese who served in the government were known as "Royal Chinese," leading to the expansion of the Teochew community and fostering good relations with the power structure in Siam.
However, Yaowarat is not just a commercial district, but a living history that records the struggles, refugees, and rise of the Teochew Chinese who transformed from refugees into an integral part of Thailand's economic and cultural foundation. This is reflected in the film "Lan Ma," which showcases the importance of family ties and filial piety, core values of Chinese culture in Siam.