Introduction

Comparatively within Southeast Asia, the Chinese diaspora in terms of numbers is the smallest in Brunei, less than 10 percent of the total population, nonetheless befitting as it stands for a microstate like this ancient Malay Muslim sultanate. 1 Interestingly, however, the Chinese possessed centuries-long relations with Brunei, dating as far back as the 10th century ce . Brunei was known to have direct trade relations with Quanzhou, port city in southern Fujian, and in turn, participated in the maritime commerce of Southern China. Trade products from Brunei then comprised exotic goods, viz. tortoise-shells, camphor, and sandalwood. The early beginnings of Sino-Brunei trade relations were arbitrated by Chinese Muslims. For trading purposes, Quanzhou Chinese Muslims settled in Brunei to oversee this lucrative trade in luxuries.