[1] Fuzhou dialect is a tonal language that has extensive sandhi rules in the initials, rimes, and tones.

The ability for a lineage to teach the fundamentals would determine people's later success with imperial examinations given throughout much of China.

As a result, people desiring to move to Fuzhou must have high education levels as well as skills necessary to contribute to the society.

[4] Fuzhou's history of emigration began since the Ming dynasty with Zheng He's voyages overseas.

As the result of immigration of Fuzhounese to Southeast Asia, Fuzhou dialect is found in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The city of Sibu of Malaysia is called "New Fuzhou" due to a significant wave of Fuzhounese immigration in the early 1900s.

During the Second World War, some Japanese scholars became passionate about studying Fuzhou dialect, believing that it could be beneficial to the rule of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

[citation needed] The Hockchius and Hockchias migrated to Nanyang (South-East Asia) in much smaller numbers compared to the Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakkas and Hainanese peoples, but achieved remarkable success.

Amongst others, Robert Kuok (Hockchiu) rose to become the "Sugar King" of Malaysia and is currently ranked the richest man in South-East Asia[7] whereas Liem Sioe Liong (Sudono Salim) who was of Hockchia origin, was once the richest man in Indonesia, controlling a vast empire in the industry of flour, cement and food manufacturing.