Tiong Hwa Hwe Koan (THHK) was a Chinese modern organization founded in 1900 by Phoa Keng Hek and Lie Kim Hok. This organization serves as a nationalist educational and spreading organization of China, due to the lack of educational facilities for ethnic Chinese. Tiong Hwa Hwe Koan existed almost throughout the Dutch East Indies, one of them was THHK Padang. The purpose of this study is to see how the process of its emergence, and what is a being part of the Chinese nationalist movement and the formation of its identity.

This study uses historical research methods through heuristic steps, source criticism, interpretation and explanation. In heuristics obtained from literature studies and field studies. Literature study obtained from relevant archives, papers and books. Field study by conducting interviews with resource persons. The theory used in this study is Wang Gungwu about the ethnic identity that will arise, as a result of fighting for his community. This theory will later explain how THHK is able to maintain its "ethnicity" identity through education and social activities.

The results of this study is showing that the Tiong Hwa Hwe Koan plays in many roles in West Sumatra, such as education and social activity. In the field of education Tiong Hwa Hwe Koan provides education "culture" and other sciences, and in the social field provides assistance for natural disasters as a form of propaganda care about the country of origin, and hold meetings to celebrate a sense of unity and nationalism against China and fellow Chinese ethnic . This participation is not only amongst board members but also supported by other Chinese organizations such as Hok Tek Tong and Heng Beng Tong.

Keywords: Tiong Hwa Hwe Koan, Ethnic Chinese, Padang, Identity, Education

Theme  : The History of Chinese Education in Other Region of Indonesia