French scholar Laurent Chazee, in his 1995 book Atlas des Ethnies et des Sous-Ethnies du Laos, listed the Tahang are a distinct ethnic group in southern Laos. They live in the southern part of Pakxong District in Champasak Province.
Champasak Province has a long history. Between the 1st and 9th centuries AD it was part of the Funan and Chenla empires. Between the 10th and 13th centuries it was part of the Khmer Angkor Empire.... "Following the decline of Angkor between the 15th and late 17th centuries, it was enfolded into the Lan Xang Kingdom but then broke away to become an independent Lao kingdom at the beginning of the 18th century. The short-lived Champ-asak Kingdom had only three monarchs: Soi Sisamut (1713-37), Sainyakuman (1737-91) and Fai Na (1791-1811)." During the French colonial era, Champasak was known as Bassac or Pasak for short.
Little specific information is available on the Tahang. They speak an Eastern Mon-Khmer language, but research has yet to be done to determine its linguistic relationship with other varieties in the region. The Tahang are possibly related to the Talieng, who live further to the east.
The Tahang do not consider themselves particularly religious, although their older people still observe animistic rituals.
Few Tahang have had any exposure to Christianity. Southern Laos has changed little in the last 100 years.
Pray that southern Laos will no longer have to wait for a chance to hear the gospel.
Ask God to raise up laborers to plant churches among the Tahang.
Pray for the Tahang people to have a spiritual hunger that will send them to Jesus Christ.
Pray for persons of peace among the Tahang elders.
Scripture Prayers for the Tahang in Laos.
Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission
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