Hakka Chinese in Thailand


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Although proud of their cultural differences, the Hakka have never claimed to be non-Chinese. Many famous Chinese have been Hakka, including Deng Xiaoping, Lee Kwan Yew, and Hong Xiuquan (the leader of the Taiping Rebellion).

There is much speculation concerning the historical roots of the Hakka. Some claim they were the first Han Chinese people to arrive in China. Others claim that the Hakka are the descendants of the Xiongnu tribe. This much is agreed upon: At various stages between the fourth and thirteenth centuries AD, large numbers of people were forced to flee their homes in the war-torn Yellow River Valley to seek refuge in southern China. These war refugees came to be known as Kejia - a Hakka word meaning "strangers" or "guests." When the brutal Mongol hordes swept across China in the thirteenth century, many Hakka fled to the south to escape the carnage. Some of the Hakka remain in Thailand and Vietnam today, though they are much more numerous in China.


What Are Their Lives Like?

As part of the careful preservation of their language, when a non-Hakka woman marries into a Hakka family, she is required to learn the Hakka language.


They have their own cuisine, architecture and dress. Their spiritual beliefs are very similar to other Han Chinese groups. At one time there were Hakka villages in Hong Kong, but that part of the world is becoming increasingly urban.
What Are Their Beliefs?

There are aspects of animism and shamanism among some of the more remote Hakka locations.

Rev. T. H. Hamburg and Rudolf Lechler were the first missionaries sent out by the Basel Mission. They arrived in China in 1846 to commence work among the Hakka. They experienced great success, and by 1922 the Hakka Christians numbered 30,000. Today, most of the estimated 150,000 Hakka Christians in China are located in southern Guangdong. Though they are reached in most of China, they remain unreached in Thailand.

In the 1800s the Taiping leader Chung Wang, a Hakka, pleaded for missionaries to have patience with his people. "You have had the gospel for upwards of 1,800 years; we only, as it were, eight days. Your knowledge of it ought to be correct and extensive, ours must necessarily be limited and imperfect. You must therefore bear with us for the present, and we will gradually improve. We are determined to uproot idolatry, and plant Christianity in its place."


What Are Their Needs?

These people need to put their hope and identity in the King of kings and Lord of lords.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Hakka people in Thailand, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their Savior.

Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.

Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others.

Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.


Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Hakka in Thailand.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Han Chinese, Hakka
People Name in Country Han Chinese, Hakka
Natural Name Hakka Chinese
Pronunciation HAH-kah
Alternate Names Han Chinese; Hokka; Ke; Kechia; Kehia; Kejia; Kek; Khek; Majia; Totok; Xinmin
Population this Country 81,000
Population all Countries 44,228,000
Total Countries 23
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 12054
ROP3 Code 103691
ROP25 Code 302936
ROP25 Name Hakka
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; Krung Thep province: Samphanthawong district; Nakhon Ratchasima and Udon Thani provinces: urban areas.   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; Krung Thep province: Samphanthawong district; Nakhon Ratchasima and Udon Thani provinces: urban areas..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
42.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
5.00 %
Ethnic Religions
36.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
2.00 %
Non-Religious
14.00 %
Other / Small
1.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chinese, Hakka (81,000 speakers)
Language Code hak   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chinese, Hakka (81,000 speakers)
Language Code hak   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chinese, Hakka
Photo Source 婷 尹 - Pixabay 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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