1. Chinese – Southeast Asia – Biography – Dictionaries 2. Chinese – Southeast Asia – Biography Volume 1 Volume I consist of 605 entries of Southeast Asian personalities of Chinese descent who have played significant roles in modern and contemporary Southeast Asia. The entries are arranged in alphabetical order by name. A total of 177 scholars and specialists in each of the ten Southeast Asian countries were commissioned to do the research and writing. Volume II Volume II consists of Indexes and Glossary for readers and researchers who would like to find a person in Volume I even if they do not know his/her name. There are five types of indexes: by name, by Gender, by Category, by Country and by Author. The Glossary consists of brief explanations of abbreviations, acronyms, names, terms and certain important events included in the 605 entries. “This is a bold project recording the lives of a particular group of Southeast Asians. Most of the people whose biographies are included here have settled down in the ten countries that constitute the region. Each of them has either self-identified as Chinese or is comfortable to be known as someone of Chinese ancestry. There are also those who were born in China or elsewhere who came here to work and do business, including seeking help from others who have ethnic Chinese connections. With the political and economic conditions of the region in a great state of flux for the past two centuries. It is impossible to find consistency in the naming process. Confucius had stressed that correct names make for the best relationships. In this case, Professor Leo Suryadinata has been pursuing for decades the elusive goal of finding the right name to give to the large numbers of people who have, in one way or another, made their homes in, or made some difference to, Southeast Asia. I believe that, when he and his colleagues selected the biographies to be included here, they have taken a big step towards the rectification of identities for many leading personalities. In so doing, he has done us all a great service.” Professor Wang Gungwu National University of Singapore