南洋

下南洋 ("going down to Nanyang") refers to the massive wave of Chinese migration - primarily from Fujian and Guangdong - to Southeast Asia from the late Qing through the Republican era, driven by poverty, war, and opportunity. It forms one of the three great historical migrations in Chinese history alongside 闯关东 and 走西口.

From a Chinese perspective the seas were named by direction: 南洋 (the south, SEA), 东洋 (the east, Japan), 西洋 (the west, Europe/Americas). 南洋华人 today refers to ethnic Chinese communities in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, etc.