The De'ang claim to be the original inhabitants of northern Myanmar. Historical evidence does little to dispute their assertions. Before they migrated to Myanmar, the ancestors of the De'ang were reportedly settled in communities along the Nujiang River in northwest Yunnan as early as the second century BC. The Chinese claim the De'ang have been living in China continuously for more than two thousand years. Many of the current communities of De'ang in China, however, are almost certainly descended from small groups who migrated back into China earlier this century to escape military campaigns launched by the British against insurgents in northern Burma (Myanmar).
The Rumai have been combined with the Pale, Shwe and Riang groups in China to form the official De'ang nationality. Each group speaks its own language and wears a different style of traditional dress, although all the groups acknowledge a common ancestry.
The Rumai De'ang celebrate many of the festivals of their Tai and Shan neighbors, including Songkran, the Water-Splashing Festival, which takes place every April. The De'ang have a traditional drum called the gelengdang which is made from a hollowed tree trunk. Its ends are covered with ox-hide. Before using it, "it is filled with water through a hole in its body to make the ox-hide and inside of the drum damp so that the desired resonance can be produced."
Despite their conversion to the Theravada sect of Buddhism many centuries ago, the De'ang retain many of their pre- Buddhist animistic and shamanistic rituals. Many Buddhist monks are also the village witch doctors. They enter trances in order to contact the spirit world. The De'ang believe they should strive to do good works to gain merit for the next life.
Like most Theravada Buddhists, the De'ang believe fate predetermines the events of their lives. This results in them having little concern about changing their ways. Their consciences have long been silenced regarding sin. There are no known Christians among the Rumai in either China or Myanmar.
Without the guidance of Christ, these people will be lost in this life and the life to come. They need someone to go to them as Christ-bearers.
Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.
Pray for loving workers.
Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.
Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.
Scripture Prayers for the De'ang, Rumai in China.
Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | De'ang, Rumai |
People Name in Country | De'ang, Rumai |
Natural Name | Rumai De'ang |
Pronunciation | Roo-mai Djahng |
Alternate Names | Black Palaung; De'ang Rumai; Humai; Palaung Rumai; Roumai; Rumai |
Population this Country | 6,200 |
Population all Countries | 6,200 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 18435 |
ROP3 Code | 114033 |
ROP25 Code | 301990 |
ROP25 Name | De'ang |
Country | China | ||
Region | Asia, Northeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 16 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | They inhabit a widespread area of northern Shan State in northern Myanmar. Between 4,000 and 5,000 Rumai Palaung inhabit China's Yunnan Province, in Longchuan and Rulili counties. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Country | China |
Region | Asia, Northeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 16 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | They inhabit a widespread area of northern Shan State in northern Myanmar. Between 4,000 and 5,000 Rumai Palaung inhabit China's Yunnan Province, in Longchuan and Rulili counties.. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Religion Subdivision: | Theravada |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
99.33 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.67 %) |
0.67 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Palaung, Rumai (6,200 speakers) |
Language Code | rbb Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Palaung, Rumai (6,200 speakers) |
Language Code | rbb Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Palaung, Rumai |
Primary Language: Palaung, Rumai
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | 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 |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Palaung, Rumai | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Palaung, Rumai | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Palaung, Rumai | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 TonyV3112 - Shutterstock All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | Joshua Project / Global Mapping International |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |