Although the Tai Nua are part of the official Dai nationality in China, they speak their own distinct language. They should not be confused with the identically named but different Tai Nua of Laos. Linguists have pointed out that Tai Nua is "a name given to at least two quite different southwestern branch groups." The Tai Nua profiled here are members of the Southwestern branch of the Tai language family, while the Tai Mao language spoken throughout Dehong Prefecture is similar to the Shan language of Myanmar.This Tai Nua group is mostly found in southern China, but also in northern Vietnam and Myanmar.
After a Tai Nua wedding ceremony the bridegroom goes to live with his bride's family. Traditionally he must take with him gifts of tea, rice, meat, bananas, four eggs, and two salted fish for his new in-laws. Upon arrival, the village elder takes the packets of tea and rice out to the road and calls on the spirits of heaven and earth to witness the marriage. He then ties a white thread seven times around the wrist of the bride and once around the wrist of the groom to indicate their unbreakable commitment to each other.
Although they are nominally Theravada Buddhists, the Tai Nua have many aspects of animism and polytheism mixed into their beliefs. The very first Tai god was Shalou, the god of hunting. Before a hunt, they offered sacrifices to Shalou to avert danger and to ensure success in the hunt.
There are few Christians among the Tai Nua and very little outreach is presently focused on bringing the gospel to them. Little improvement in their spiritual condition has taken place since the 1920s when one missionary lamented, "There is not a missionary working south of [Kunming] to Mohei, I am here alone and my little candle is the only light. Yet in these mountains are thousands of tribesmen who have never heard of the gospel."
The Tai Nua people need to hear that Jesus Christ offers them so much more than the spirit world ever can offer them.
Pray for openness to the gospel among Tai Nua elders and commoners.
Pray for the Lord to send dreams and visions of the Risen Christ to these people who have very little chance to hear his name.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to transform Tai Nua communities.
Scripture Prayers for the Tai Nua, Chinese Shan in Myanmar (Burma).
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Tai Nua, Chinese Shan |
People Name in Country | Tai Nua, Chinese Shan |
Natural Name | Tai Nua |
Pronunciation |
tie NOO-ah
|
Alternate Names | Chinese Shan; Dai; Dai Kong; Dai Le; Dai Loe; Dai Mao; Dai Mo; Dai Na; Dai Nue; Dai Nuea; Dehong; Dungan; Eastern Shan; Hakka; Han Chinese; Han-Paiyi; Kang; Kong; Loe; Mandarin; Mao Shan; Maw; Northern Shan; Nua; Paiyi; Shan Tayok; Tai Che; Tai Khe; Tai Kong; Tai Le; Tai Loe; Tai Neua; Tai Nua; Tai Nue; Tai Nuea; Tai Yai; Yunnanese |
Population this Country | 103,000 |
Population all Countries | 717,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 15193 |
ROP3 Code | 109720 |
ROP25 Code | 307855 |
ROP25 Name | Tai Nua |
Country | Myanmar (Burma) | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 14 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | North Shan State; east Kachin State. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Myanmar (Burma) |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 14 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | North Shan State; east Kachin State.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Religion Subdivision: | Theravada |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
99.89 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.11 %) |
0.11 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Tai Nua (103,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tdd Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Tai Nua (103,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tdd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Tai Nua |
Primary Language: Tai Nua
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1931-1948) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Text / Printed Matter | Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies | World Missionary Press |
Photo Source | Arian Zwegers - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
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. |