Cun in China

The Cun have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Cun
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Cun were originally Han Chinese people who migrated to Hainan Island and intermingled with the Li people. After many centuries they developed their own language and ethnic identity.

The Cun (village) people have been officially included as part of the Han Chinese nationality by the central government, even though their language is considered a dialect of the Ha Li language. Note that the speakers of the Lingao language in northern Hainan also refer to their language as the "village (Cun) language." Chinese scholars have named that language Lingao to avoid confusion.

One linguist has noted, "There are numerous Han Chinese nationality members around Changcheng on the west coast who speak Cunhua 'village language' which is one of the four Ha dialects of Li." There is some confusion regarding the exact linguistic affiliation of Cun. One respected source classifies it as "Sino-Tibetan, Zhuang-Dong" and describes it as "a separate language that resembles Li." Others have placed Cun in the Li- Laqua branch of the Kadai language family. Cun, which has ten tones, also contains many Chinese loanwords. The majority of Cun are bilingual in the Hainanese dialect of Chinese.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Cun are simple-hearted people. They are extremely poor and do not wear a traditional dress unique to their people. Their main concerns are for the welfare of their families and the annual success of their crops.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Cun are animists, but religion does not take a very important role in their daily lives.

Although most Cun live in complete spiritual darkness and neglect, there have been promising signs in recent years. In 1994 a Hong Kong-based mission gave Bible training to several Cun. When they first came to the course the middle-aged students had never heard of God, but the Holy Spirit found their hearts fertile ground for his Word. After three months the Cun were filled with Christ's peace and love and were desperate to return immediately to their own people to tell them the way to salvation. They did this and met with immediate success. Many of their family members and fellow villagers were overjoyed to hear the news that Christ died for their sins. By 1998 there were three or four churches among the Cun.


What Are Their Needs?

The Cun people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers in John 10:10.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.

Pray for loving workers.

Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.

Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Cun in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Cun
People Name in Country Cun
Pronunciation Tswoon
Alternate Names Cunhua; Han Chinese; Ngao; Ngao Fon; Tsuen
Population this Country 97,000
Population all Countries 97,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 11446
ROP3 Code 102331
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country More than 79,000 Cun live in the westernmost part of Hainan Island - China's largest island (excluding Taiwan). They inhabit villages in the Sigeng, Xinjie, Hongjiang, and Baoban districts - along the south bank of the Changhua River in northern Dongfang County; and the north bank of the same river in Changjiang County. Hainan is a tropical island with warm temperatures and beautiful beaches. The Chinese authorities have tried to promote Hainan as a tourist haven in recent years. Dozens of five-star hotels have been constructed along the coasts, but to date the tourist influx has fallen far short of the government's unrealistically high expectations.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country More than 79,000 Cun live in the westernmost part of Hainan Island - China's largest island (excluding Taiwan). They inhabit villages in the Sigeng, Xinjie, Hongjiang, and Baoban districts - along the south bank of the Changhua River in northern Dongfang County; and the north bank of the same river in Changjiang County. Hainan is a tropical island with warm temperatures and beautiful beaches. The Chinese authorities have tried to promote Hainan as a tourist haven in recent years. Dozens of five-star hotels have been constructed along the coasts, but to date the tourist influx has fallen far short of the government's unrealistically high expectations..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 4.12 %)
4.12 %
Ethnic Religions
68.88 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
20.00 %
Other / Small
7.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Cun (97,000 speakers)
Language Code cuq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Cun (97,000 speakers)
Language Code cuq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Cun

Primary Language:  Cun

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source COMIBAM / Sepal 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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