Anti-Hakka sentiment

Hakkas live in walled structures to protect themselves because of the hostility against them by Han Chinese locals in Southern China

Anti-Hakka sentiment refers to the racism, persecution, hostility or hatred of Hakka people. Anti-Hakka sentiments traced it roots back when Hakkas first moved into Southern China, where Hakkas fought for land against the Southern Chinese locals which resulted in hatred and resentment against Hakkas by the Southern Chinese locals in return. Such hatred has resulted in conflict and wars against Hakkas.

By Cantonese people

Hatred of hakkas was especially prevalent among Cantonese people. Anti-Hakka sentiment among Cantonese people intensified during the late 19th century, when Hakkas helped the Qing army to attack Cantonese villages, this accumilated in the largest clan war in China's history: the Punti-Hakka Clan Wars, where Cantonese mass murdered huge numbers of hakkas.

During the clan war, Anti-Hakka slogans were commonly used by Cantonese people against Hakkas during the fighting such as "Hate the hakkas and differentiate the province"(仇客分省).^[1]

The Cantonese massacred and killed Hakkas without pity and exterminated whole Hakka villages. By the time the clan war ended, 1 million people, most of them Hakkas, had been killed.^[2]

Anti-Hakka sentiment was also found overseas outside China as well, brought by Cantonese immigrants. When Cantonese people arrived in Madagascar they worked together to prevent any Hakkas from migrating to Madagascar.^[3] In Malaysia, friction between Cantonese and Hakkas started another clan war known as the Larut War.

Hakkas were seen as barbarians and closely related to tribal people by the Cantonese.^[4]

By Hoklo people

Hatred of Hakkas was also prevalent among the Hoklo people ever since they arrived in Fujian. Anti-hakka sentiment amongst Hoklos accelerated in Taiwan during the lateQing Dynasty, due to the Hakkas fighting for land, resulting in Hoklos killing Hakkas and clan fights.^[5]

References