Phase I
17th–19th Centuries: Early Migration within Southeast Asia
Overview
Cantonese merchants and sailors moved through maritime networks linking Guangdong to port cities in Southeast Asia. Migration was often circular, shaped by trade, kinship, and regional instability.
Key patterns
- Commercial routes across the South China Sea
- Association halls and temples as community anchors
- Multi-lingual port life: Cantonese, Hokkien, Malay, Thai