Guangdong is the main overseas Chinese area. Ever since the Opium War, many farmers and craftsmen in the coastal areas of Guangdong had been gone abroad to make a living. They sold their labor for humble income, being separated from their families. “One family, two nations” is a common phenomenon among overseas Chinese. For it, they keep constant association with their family and mother country, both in economy and politics. On the one hand, they disseminated the traditional culture, customs and religion to the Europe and America as well as other East-southern countries; on the other hand, they brought back foreign thoughts and cultures to China. Consequently, they play a role of catalyst in process of Chinese modernization. The role of Guangdong overseas Chinese played in the social change in Modern China can be summarized into:first, form a unique overseas subculture, and enrich the diversity of traditional Chinese culture. Second, disseminate advance lifestyle and social customs, and push the development of modern mineral industry and transportation. Third, introduce western advanced political thoughts and system to China, and start the historical process of the Revolution in 1911.%广东是全国的主要侨区。鸦片战争以来，广东沿海大量农民和其他手工业劳动者出国谋生。他们长期旅居国外，从事体力劳动，收入有限，无法举家外迁，被迫将妻儿父母留在家乡，形成一家两国的特殊情况。这种特殊情况的存在，使华侨与家庭和祖国保持密切的经济、政治联系。他们一方面将中国传统文化、生活习俗以及宗教信仰带入欧美及东南亚诸国，另一方面华侨华人也将所在国接受的先进思想文化、政治制度等带回中国，从而在中国近代化的进程中自觉或不自觉地起到传播者，甚至领导者的作用。
展开▼
