Evidence of the Arrival of Chinese Migrants in Borneo

One of the strongest pieces of evidence for the existence of early humans in Borneo comes from Niah Cave in Miri. Carbon dating on artifacts found there has shown that humans lived on the island long before the modern migration from China began. This discovery provides a significant insight into the early history of human presence in the region.

Researchers hypothesize that Bornean humans, who have been in the area for thousands of years, likely emigrated from the island before deglaciation. Deglaciation was a major climate event that caused sea levels to rise, affecting migration patterns. This event likely prompted many groups of people to move to other parts of Southeast Asia, including China.

Over time, this migration process played a key role in shaping the diverse societies of Borneo. The movements of these early humans contributed to the rich cultural tapestry of the island. As a result, Borneo’s history is deeply intertwined with early human migration across the region.

Artifacts: Physical Evidence Connecting Borneo to China

However, what is particularly fascinating is the larger-scale arrival of the Chinese, which is recorded in history as an important chapter in Borneo's development. As early as the 7th century, China had recorded Borneo in trade and expedition records. While large-scale migration did not begin until 1740, archaeological evidence and artifacts found in various locations across Borneo suggest that the Chinese had a long-standing relationship with the island.

Artifacts from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) have been found in places like Pemangkat and Singkawang, showing that while the mass migration started in the 18th century, the Chinese were aware of and connected to Borneo long before that. These artifacts, which include porcelain, pottery, and tools, strongly support the notion that the arrival of Chinese migrants is not a myth but a verifiable historical event.

Chinatowns: Traces of Social and Economic Life of Chinese Migrants

The presence of Chinese migrants in Borneo is not only recorded in artifacts but can also be seen in the formation of Chinese communities in various regions, particularly in Singkawang and Pemangkat. These Chinatowns were not just places of residence but also centers of social, economic, and cultural activities that connected the Chinese with the local population.

By the end of the 18th century, the number of Chinese living in Borneo exceeded 40,000, even surpassing the Malay population in some areas. The first Chinese migrants to Borneo came to work in the gold mines of West Borneo. They arrived as laborers seeking livelihood and established relationships with the local communities. These relationships eventually grew into stronger bonds, which were reflected in the formation of alliances between the Chinese and the indigenous people.

Chinatowns in Borneo serve as strong evidence that the Chinese did not merely come to trade, but also integrated with the local society. Many Chinese men who arrived without wives married Dayak women, further strengthening the social and cultural ties between the two groups. These marriages created extended families that often involved both Chinese and Dayak people as part of a larger kinship network.

Moreover, the term used by the Dayak people to refer to the Chinese as "sobat," meaning "friend," reflects the close relationship between the two groups. Conversely, the Chinese referred to the Dayak people as "Lo-a-kia," which may indicate a belief that the Dayak people came from the Li tribe of Hainan. However, there were also derogatory terms like "fanzi" (barbarian) used for non-native immigrants to Borneo, showcasing the complex interactions between various groups on the island.

Chinatowns in Borneo were not just residential areas; they also reflected how the Chinese established their social and cultural lives amidst the diverse society. As trade centers, they played a vital role in the local economy and acted as bridges between China and the Bornean communities. These Chinatowns stand as solid evidence that the Chinese have been living in Borneo for a long time, interacting with the indigenous populations and building supportive communities.

Inscriptions and Documents: Mapping Borneo's History

In addition to artifacts and Chinatowns, documents and inscriptions provide a vital contribution to understanding the history of Chinese migrants' arrival in Borneo. Chinese records, particularly from the Tang Dynasty, mention Borneo in various contexts, both as part of trade routes and as a site for expeditions. While the large-scale migration did not begin until 1740, earlier records about China's awareness of Borneo had already been documented.

Inscriptions found in several locations in Borneo, such as Pemangkat and Singkawang, show how the Chinese built their lives on the island. These inscriptions often recorded significant events in the social, cultural, and political life of the Chinese community. In many cases, these inscriptions also documented the formation of alliances between the Chinese and the local people or with the Malay authorities at the time.

One of the most famous alliances was the establishment of the zongting, a voluntary association formed by the Chinese in Borneo. Zongting played a crucial role in organizing the social, political, and economic lives of the Chinese in Borneo. They had a voting system for selecting their governing council and executives, which indicated that they had a well-organized social structure. The Dutch government, surprised by the success of these zongting, even sent anthropologist J. J. M. de Groot in 1880 to study the system.

De Groot concluded that the success of the Chinese community in Borneo was largely due to the Hakka culture and the adoption of a village society model that resembled a republic. However, this analysis has been questioned by modern scholars. Yuan Bingling, for example, argued that the social structure of zongting was more influenced by the stories of the classic Chinese novel Shuihu Zhuan (Water Margin), which tells the adventures of 108 hero-bandits. 

According to Yuan, these hero stories inspired a spirit of brotherhood that became the foundation of the social behavior and mutual aid systems in Chinese society.

Additionally, documents also recorded the social relations between the Chinese and Dayak people. In West Kalimantan, for example, many Chinese men married Dayak women, which created strong family ties between the two groups. 

This is reflected in the term used by the Dayak people to call the Chinese "sobat," meaning friend, as well as the term "Lo-a-kia," which refers to a belief that the Dayak people originated from the Li tribe of Hainan.

Four Key Elements to Prove in History

In writing the history of Borneo, particularly regarding the arrival of Chinese migrants, there are four essential elements that historians must prove. 

1. First, who are the key historical figures involved? In this case, the primary actors are the Chinese migrants, especially from the Hakka group, who arrived in Borneo in the 18th century. 
2. Second, where did these events take place? Pemangkat, Singkawang, Montrado, and Mandor were key locations where the Chinese settled in Borneo. 
3. Third, when did these events occur? While Chinese records mention Borneo as early as the 7th century, the mass migration began in 1740 and expanded rapidly during the 18th century. 
4. Fourth, what events took place? The presence of the Chinese in Borneo, marked by the establishment of zongting and their relationships with the local populations and Malay authorities, was a key event in Borneo's history.

These four elements are essential to ensure that the history we learn is both legitimate and verifiable. Artifacts, Chinatowns, documents, and inscriptions provide solid evidence supporting this history. 

With such evidence, we can confirm that the arrival of the Chinese in Borneo is not merely a story. It is a historical event backed by concrete proof.

-- Masri Sareb Putra