AMOY, DIOCESE of. — A district of the civil province of Fukien (China), it was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 3 December 1883 and enlarged in area by decree of 19 July 1913; on 3 December 1924 its current designation was confirmed, and on 11 April 1946 it was erected as a diocese. It is entrusted to the regular province of the Most Holy Rosary (Philippine Islands) of the Order of Preachers. On 30 June 1946, out of a total population of approximately 5,000,000 inhabitants, there were 15,111 Catholics and 954 catechumens. There were 32 priests and 10 religious sisters. Emigration is very common among the inhabitants; those on the islands and along the coast are bold fishermen and merchants, while those inland are farmers (tea) and artisans. Buddhism is widespread, perhaps more so than elsewhere.
A. is the name of the local dialect; in Mandarin the city is called Hsiamen, hence the Latin name of the curia, Sciamensis.