Eastern Bru in Thailand


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Bru are descendants of the great Khmer Empire, which flourished between the ninth and thirteenth centuries and encompassed present-day Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and southern Vietnam. Its power declined after being conquered by the Thai and Vietnamese. About 400 years ago, the Bru were pushed out of the best valley lands in northern Laos and forced southward by the Thai-speaking peoples. The word bru literally means "mountain." This name was probably given to them in reference to their current geographical location. The Western Bru of Laos live along the borders of Thailand, while the Eastern Bru live along the borders of Vietnam. A smaller number of the Eastern Bru live in Thailand. Though the two groups speak the same language (Bru), their dialects are not mutually understood. In fact, the dialects may even vary within the same village. Some of the Bru are bilingual, speaking both their native language and Lao.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Bru are wet-rice farmers. Their fields are prepared with plows drawn by buffalo or oxen; very few farmers use modern equipment. Many of the Bru who live in the mountainous regions or highlands continue to practice "slash and burn" farming. Many also hunt and fish to supplement their incomes. Others have become skilled merchants. Their villages are typically located along the banks of rivers or streams. The Bru live in small, self-governing villages that are usually limited to a single valley. Each village is under the control of the chao muong, or prince, to whom the commoners pay taxes. The village headman, who is the eldest male, decides all important issues. All marriages are monogamous, and each family is under the leadership of the oldest male. Bru folk art and literature are fairly well developed. They have a variety of musical instruments, which they play skillfully, accompanied by singing and narrative readings. Their houses are usually arranged in a circle, surrounding a central "community house." Each home, which stands on stilts, is divided into several rooms to accommodate the extended family. Each house contains a fireplace for preparing meals. The first room is used to receive guests. It also includes a sacred shrine for spirit worship.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Virtually all of the Bru are ethnic religionists, practicing their own traditional religion. Ancestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors for prosperity, guidance and protection) is the most important activity. Each clan has a common worship place in which the dead are offered uncooked rice, water and broken bowls. These ancestral spirits are thought to cause illnesses if they are not properly appeased. The Bru also believe in various spirits of nature and each village has a particular "guardian spirit."


What Are Their Needs?

The Bru people in Thailand need modern farm equipment and a greater harvest.


Prayer Points

Pray for a great rice harvest among the Eastern Bru that will convince them that Jehovah is indeed their provider. Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Bru people in Thailand that will lead them into the light of Christ. Pray for a movement to Christ this decade among every Bru group in Thailand and Laos. Pray for Holy Spirit-directed missionaries to go the Eastern Bru people in Thailand.


Scripture Prayers for the Bru, Eastern in Thailand.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bru, Eastern
People Name in Country Bru, Eastern
Natural Name Eastern Bru
Pronunciation broo
Alternate Names Bru Van Kieu; Bru-Vân Kiều; Eastern Bru; Galler
Population this Country 26,000
Population all Countries 118,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11686
ROP3 Code 102833
ROP25 Code 301420
ROP25 Name Bru
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Sakon Nakhon and Mukdahan provinces in the Isan region   Source:  Web article
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Sakon Nakhon and Mukdahan provinces in the Isan region.   Source:  Web article
Map of Bru, Eastern in Thailand Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
80.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.00 %)
2.00 %
Ethnic Religions
18.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Bru, Eastern (26,000 speakers)
Language Code bru   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bru, Eastern (26,000 speakers)
Language Code bru   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bru, Eastern
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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