The Pale De'ang are one of four distinct groups that have been combined to form the official De'ang nationality in China. In Myanmar, they are called Palaung. Palaung is a Burmese word. The Chinese authorities originally named this minority the Benglong - a Chinese transliteration of Palaung - but after consultation in 1982 they changed their name to De'ang.
A 1987 survey listed 6,000 speakers of the De'ang Pale language in China. They are located in Luxi County in the western part of Yunnan Province, close to the Myanmar border. The Pale area is just east of the Rumai. In addition, between 200,000 and 300,000 Pale live in northern Myanmar. More than 5,000 also live near Fang in northwest Thailand. They were war refugees from Myanmar in the early 1980s.
De'ang is a member of the Mon-Khmer language family. It is related to Bulang and Wa. Pale is the only one of the four De'ang languages that is not tonal. In Myanmar the Pale language is quite uniform despite its large geographical dispersion.
The De'ang were originally part of one great Austro-Asiatic race. It appears the De'ang and Wa shared a common identity in the past but split off from each other when the De'ang embraced Buddhism. The Wa remained animists.
Most De'ang are employed in agriculture, farming, and logging. Work tasks are assigned according to age and sex. The men perform demanding tasks such as plowing, while the women plant seeds and fetch water. The De'ang have been culturally influenced by their Dai neighbors and celebrate many of the same festivals.
Many centuries ago the De'ang converted to Theravada Buddhism. Their Buddhist practices are mixed with numerous animistic beliefs and rituals. Shamans, or witch doctors, are powerful figures in De'ang society. No important event is undertaken without first consulting a shaman. He goes into a trance to determine whether or not an event should occur and when the most auspicious date and time would be.
The De'ang are considered relatively resistant to Christianity. The majority are trapped in fear of demons and shamans. Few missionaries in the past have tried to reach the De'ang in China. In 1945 work among them was described as "completely virgin soil." A handful of De'ang families in western Yunnan were converted before foreign missionaries were expelled from China in the early 1950s. Today, approximately one out of every thousand De'ang in Myanmar is a Christian. The few minor breakthroughs that have occurred among the Pale De'ang in Myanmar have often resulted in violent persecution and martyrdom. The Pale De'ang have gospel radio broadcasts and the Jesus film in their language. Although the broadcasts are focused on Myanmar, it is believed listeners are also able to receive the shortwave signal in China.
Scripture Prayers for the Palaung, Pale in Thailand.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Palaung, Pale |
People Name in Country | Palaung, Pale |
Natural Name | Pale Palaung |
Population this Country | 6,200 |
Population all Countries | 309,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Benglong; Bonglong; Bonglung; Bulei; Darang; Deang; De'ang Pale; Manton; Nam Hsan; Ngwe; Ngwe Palaung; Palaung; Pale Palaung; Palong; PalPalay; Penglung; Silver; Silver Palaung; Southern Ta'ang; Taang |
People ID | 14178 |
ROP3 Code | 109011 |
Country | Thailand | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Chiang Mai province. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Thailand |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Chiang Mai province.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.
Primary Language | Palaung, Ruching (6,200 speakers) |
Language Code | pce Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Palaung, Ruching (6,200 speakers) |
Language Code | pce Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Palaung, Ruching |
Primary Language: Palaung, Ruching
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2012-2013) |
Bible-Complete | No |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Palaung, Ruching |
Text / Printed Matter | Jesus Messiah comic book |
Text / Printed Matter | Online Bible text (Scripture Earth) |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
79.80 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.20 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
20.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
0.0 %
|
Independent |
0.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
30.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
70.0 %
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 Kerry Olson All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Video Source | Asia Harvest |
Profile Source | Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |