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.
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.
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."
The Bru people in Thailand need modern farm equipment and a greater harvest.
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 |
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 |
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 |
Primary Language: Bru, Eastern
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1968) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1981-2009) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2014) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
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 |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Bru, Eastern | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Bru, Eastern | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 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. |