The 1995 Lao national census counted 6,511 Jeng people living in six villages in southern Laos. The Jeng (also spelt Chieng) live in one small area in the districts of Samakkhixai and Sanamxai in Attapu Province. The Jeng live along the main roads near the Lao, Oy and Brau. Their houses are dispersed randomly among the rice fields, unlike many other Mon-Khmer groups who place their homes in a circle around a communal house.
The Jeng are linguistically and historically related to the Oy and Brau people, but they possess certain customs that define their separate ethnicity.
In the past the Jeng lived in the mountains inside Vietnam, but they migrated en masse to the plains of southern Laos in 1936. Their culture and worldview has been greatly influenced by the Lao since then, although they have firmly resisted Buddhism.
Today only a few old women still wear traditional Jeng dress for festivals only; although in recent years there has been a strong desire to preserve Jeng culture, now that much of it has already been lost.
Some aspects of Jeng culture has survived well. Jeng men and women are easily distinguishable for wearing large cylinders in their earlobes. The Jeng own large jars and ancient brass gongs, which were used as currency in the past, probably while they were still in Vietnam.
The Jeng are traditionally animists, although many of their animistic ceremonies have now been abandoned. Their continuing fear of spirits can clearly be seen in their custom of building a miniature model village just for the spirits. Within these villages, which may measure up to 100 meters in length, each particular spirit has its own house. The spirit village is usually built a few hundred meters away from the nearest house in the community. It is the place where people come to make offerings and sacrifices.
The extent that Christianity has affected the Jeng is uncertain. Some may have heard the Gospel from the small number of Brau and Oy Christians nearby.
* Scripture Prayers for the Jeng in Laos.
* Pray the Jeng people would be known as temples of the Holy Spirit, and not as communities for housing demons.
* Ask God to send evangelists to the unreached Jeng as soon as possible.
* Pray the Jeng would be saved, as a testimony of God's grace and a witness to Christ's power over sin.
Profile Source: Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Jeng |
People Name in Country | Jeng |
Population this Country | 8,900 |
Population all Countries | 8,900 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Cheng |
People ID | 12341 |
ROP3 Code | 104229 |
Country | Laos | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | 22 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Attapu province, Samakkhixai and Sanamxai districts Source: Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999 |
Country | Laos |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 22 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Attapu province, Samakkhixai and Sanamxai districts. Source: Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999 |
Primary Language | Oy (8,900 speakers) |
Language Code | oyb Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Oy (8,900 speakers) |
Language Code | oyb Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Oy |
Primary Language: Oy
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
100.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
Unknown
|
Independent |
Unknown
|
Orthodox |
Unknown
|
Other Christian |
Unknown
|
Protestant |
Unknown
|
Roman Catholic |
Unknown
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group Location from IMB. Other map data / geography from GMI. Map by Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |