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CHINESE IN PERU
I remember on my first trip to Peru in the early 1980’s and one of my friends asked if I would like to eat chifa. I said of course and thought to myself that I would be eating some unique Peruvian style of food. To my surprise I was introduced to Peruvian Chinese cuisine known as “chifa”. Without doubt, the Chinese now numbering about 400,000 have also had a significant impact China throughout much of modern history has been responsible for settling millions of its people throughout the world. In 2000 estimates were that at least 34 million Chinese were living in 140 countries. There has been much academic study of the huge migrations over time. There have been four basic waves of movement of the Chinese. First, is the Huashang method of migration where Chinese have settled in many areas of Asia. Many of those migrating were artisans and merchants. The second style of migration is the best known to foreigners. Called Huagong, it refers to the “coolie” system of workers who were sent from the 1850’s through the 1920’s to the U.S. and Australia. Most of these migrants were of peasant origin. The third system has been Huaquino where Chinese were migrated to help promote the Chinese culture and often were highly educated. The fourth system is referred to Huayi and have been people of Chinese descent that have moved from country to another.
The primary migration to Peru falls under the Huagong system from 1849 through 1874 where they worked in the processing of guano (fertilizer) along the coast and on the sugar plantations.. Many of the original Chinese were from Macau and were shipped via San Francisco. Their situation as being indentured was deplorable for the nearly 100,000 Chinese who migrated. One of the reasons they were imported as workers is that there was a shortage in Peru and the employers believed they had more control over foreign workers who were isolated from their homeland. Suicides, rebellions and escapes were quite common. And, in the war against Chile numerous Chinese took up arms against their overseers. Many of the Chinese remained when their contracts were up as small farmers and shopkeepers. Many of the Chinese have moved into the middle class economically despite continued discrimination and racism.
By Nicholas Crowder / copyright 2004/ May not be retransmitted or copied without prior written consent. Furthermore, it may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written consent from Nicholas Crowder - crowdpub@mindspring.com