VOC and Chinese in Java: Identifying the Migration Motives in the Seventeenth Century

The presence of Chinese abroad in the seventeenth century is regarded as the early modern period by many scholars. The seventeenth century was also marked by the increasing seaborne trade in Southeast Asia, which was significantly more intense than before. Chinese merchants were one of the dominant traders within the region. As the result, the Chinese massive migration in the seventeenth century witnessed unprecedented occasions regarding many issues which encouraged the enthusiasm of the Chinese diaspora to Java in the seventeenth century. This chapter emerges from the observation that the current literature on migration motives are lacking. This study aims to enrich the literature about the motives and how they drove the Chinese to migrate. Few literatures that adequately appreciate transnational migration motivation to Southeast Asia, especially Java. The previous research tends to discuss the events, background, and consequences of Chinese migration to Java. This chapter addresses some points, namely (1) investigating the Chinese motives to migrate to Java in the 17th century; (2) formulating well-established analytical tools on how these Chinese migrants were perceived by the Dutch East Indies as well as by indigenous Javanese traders. Also how Chinese migrants portrayed themselves in Javanese society in the seventeenth century; (3) underscoring that the main factor of Chinese migration to Java relates to VOC policy which started with the establishment of the new city of Batavia in 1619. This chapter also tries to complete the reference and research about the Chinese migration phenomenon all over the world.