AMOY, DIOCESE OF. — District of the civil province of Fukien (China), it was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 3 Dec. 1883 and enlarged in area by decree of 19 July 1913; on 3 Dec. 1924 the present name was confirmed, and on 11 Apr. 1946 it was raised to the status of a diocese. It is entrusted to the regular province of the Most Holy Rosary (Philippine Islands) of the Order of Preachers. As of 30 June 1946, with a total population of approximately 5,000,000 inhabitants, there were 15,111 Catholics and 954 catechumens. There were 32 priests and 10 sisters. Emigration is very common among the inhabitants; those on the islands and along the coast are bold fishermen and traders, while those inland are farmers (tea) and artisans. Buddhism is perhaps more widespread here than elsewhere.
A. is the name of the local dialect; in Mandarin the city is called Hsiamen, whence the Latin curial name Sciiamensis.