Monday, July 1, 2013

The ancestry of Southern Chinese

I just came across an thesis written by Stanford PHD student Chen Shu Juo, regarding the ancestry of Southern Chinese [see this]. The author is a Taiwanese. The thesis is based on research of Y chromosome which indicates patrilineality as well as mtDNA, which is inherited only through mother.

The author deduces that Fujian Han receives 100% paternal genetic contribution from Northern Chinese and 34% maternal Northern Chinese contribution. Meanwhile Guangdong Han is 68% paternal and 15% maternal from Northern Chinese. Hence, the local woman maternal genetic contribution to Fujian and Guangdong people is 66% and 85% respectively.

We know that ancient Southern China belongs to the Yue (越) people, and we are closely related culturally, linguistically and genetically to the Vietnamese (越南). Southern Chinese according to many researches was a result of Northern Chinese mixing the Yue women. But this report that suggest 100% Northern Chinese patrilineality in Fujian Chinese is still very appalling to me.

Although further research is merited, the dominant of paternal Northern Chinese gene in Southern Chinese is quite conclusive.




5 comments:

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Veritas,
Vietnam is Yue South or the southern part of Yue. Historically Fujian, Kwantung, Kwangsi and Yunnan made up the Yue region, populated by the Yue people. And Vietnam is the southern most part of this region, or called Yue South. The people in these provinces and Vietnam are genetically very similar, including features. Culturally, before the arrival of French, Vietnamese are very similar to the southern Chinese.

Veritas said...

Hi RB, all southern province are incorporated into China quite late. Actually we are just Sinicize Yue.

And what is the proto Yue speaking?

The Yue may not be a homogeneous tribe. I believe their lect could include Malay, proto-vietnamese, Hmong, Thai....etc.

I am just a sinicize Yue.

But looking at many research, I am still appalled that there is suc a big dominant northern Chinese gene in Fujian Chinese.

I do not think 100% of Yue paternal genes are extinct. That cannot be possible. More research is needed.

Alice said...

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Anonymous said...


I like your blog and content, espe about ancestors , history, culture. I believe they are important things to know. will be a pity if we just leave this world without knowing about our/human routes.

yes, just ignore those bad intention- comments. the more they do, the more their bad intention will be highlighted.

darkness cannot destroy light. it only makes the light looks brighter.

Anonymous said...

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HE WILL BE 90 YRS THIS SEPTEMBER.
HE IS ENJOYING LIFE WHILE THE REST OF THE POPULATIONS STRUGGLE WITH HIGH COST OF LIVING,EXPENSIVE HOUSING , TRANSPORT AND HAVE TO WORK HARD JUST TO GET FOOD ON THE TABLE.ALL THIS CAUSE BY HIS PARTY AND HIS POLICY DECISION MAKING