Tanka People - Note On The Term

Note On The Term

The term Tanka is now considered derogatory and no longer in common use. These boat-dwelling people are now referred to in China as "on-water people" (Chinese: 水上人; Mandarin Pinyin: shuǐshàng rén; Jyutping: seoi2seong6 jan4), or "Nam Hoi Yan" (Chinese: 南海人). No standardized English translation of this term exists, and "Boat People" is a commonly used translation, although it may be confused with the similar term that applies to Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. The term "Boat Dwellers" was proposed by Dr. Lee Ho Yin of The University of Hong Kong in 1999, and it has been adopted by the Hong Kong Museum of History for its permanent exhibition.

The name Tanka itself is a derogatory term, used by Cantonese against the Tanka. Both the Tanka and the Cantonese speak the Cantonese language.

"Boat people" was a general category for both the Tanka and the Hoklo, who made their living on boats. They spoke different dialects, and the Hoklo originated from Fujian. The Hoklo used the term Hoklo to refer to themselves, while the name Tanka was used only by Cantonese to describe the Tanka.

There were two distinct categories of people based on their way of life, and they were further divided into different groups. The Hakka and Cantonese lived on land, the Tanka and Hoklo lived on boats and were both classified as boat people.

The differences between the sea dwelling Tanka and land dwellers were not just based on merely their way of life, Cantonese and Hakka who lived on land fished sometimes for a living, but these land fishermen never mixed or married with the Tanka fishermen, barring the Tanka from celebrations.

British reports on Hong Kong described the Tanka and Hoklo living in Hong Kong "since time unknown". The encyclopedia Americana described Hoklo and Tanka as living in Hong Kong "since prehistoric times".