Kejia

Kejia, or Hakka, refers to a Han Chinese ethnolinguistic group. The name Kejia (客家) translates roughly as “guest families” and reflects a history of migrating communities who settled in southern China. The Kejia are concentrated in Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Guangxi, with large diaspora communities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia (notably Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), and elsewhere.

The Kejia language, commonly called Hakka (客家话), consists of several regional dialects, including Meixian, Sixian, and Hailu. They form a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family and are not entirely mutually intelligible. Hakka is typically tonal, with variations in phonology and vocabularly across dialects. Most speakers use Chinese characters for writing; there is no single standard Hakka script, and romanization systems vary.

History and settlement: Scholars view Kejia as one of the Han subgroups whose ancestors migrated from northern China in multiple waves between the first millennium CE and the Song dynasty. They settled in mountainous areas of southern China to escape upheavals and taxes. The Meizhou region in Guangdong and Fujian Tulou towns are notable for their distinctive architecture—large earthen structures built to house multiple generations. The Fujian Tulou were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

Culture and identity: Kejia communities maintain distinctive customs in music, festivals, and cuisine. Hakka cuisine is known for robust flavors, including dishes using preserved meat and tofu and braised preparations, and is widely celebrated in Chinatowns and overseas communities. The Kejia diaspora has contributed to regional cultures across Asia and beyond while maintaining language and heritage through associations and festivals.