Tai Nua in Myanmar (Burma)


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Identity

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. The confusion of names is caused partly by "the Chinese tendency to group languages together into nationalities, exemplified by the Dai nationality, which includes all the Southwestern Tai languages of China."


History

The Tai Nua are historically part of the great Tai race of Asia, which dispersed during the past millennia to now inhabit parts of China, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, and, of course, Thailand. "Based on evidence from Neolithic finds unearthed by archeologists during recent decades it is now believed that before migrating southwards, the forefathers of the present day Thais lived in most parts of Guangxi and Sichuan, plus parts of Guizhou and Yunnan."


Buddhists typically have little awareness of their own sin and their need for forgiveness. The Tai Nua do not realize their need for a savior.
Customs

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.


Religion

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, sacrifices were offered to Shalou to avert danger and to ensure success in the hunt."


Christianity

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."


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Tai Nua, Chinese Shan in Myanmar (Burma).


Profile Source:   Operation China, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

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
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
Map of Tai Nua, Chinese Shan in Myanmar (Burma) Ethnolinguistic map or other map

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 Operation China, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.