The Dianbao are one of many tribes and language groups combined to form the Zhuang nationality in China. The Dianbao did not oppose being officially classified under the Zhuang minority. As one writer explains, "After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, during the stage of the 'recognition of nationalities,' the Zhuangs from different districts agreed, through democratic consultation, that they be regarded as the Zhuang nationality as a whole."
The Dianbao language suggests they are descended from the great Tai race that splintered into dozens of different tribes over the course of history. Today, Tai (or Thai) peoples are scattered throughout Asia from the northeastern part of India to the Tai-speaking minorities in China such as the Zhuang, Dai, Bouyei, and Li. One historian listed more than 25 different Tai tribes in China. The various Zhuang groups - who first appeared in Hunan during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) - migrated to southwest China in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, "under the pressure of the advancing Mongol armies."
The Dianbao have a rich collection of folk songs and tales that are handed down from one generation to another.
The majority of Dianbao are animists. They observe a great number of superstitions, especially about eating and how visitors enter their homes.
There are no known Christians among the Dianbao today. Few have ever heard the gospel. A missionary near the Dianbao region, Mrs. T. P. Worsnip, described her frustrations at the lack of progress she encountered in the early 1920s: "I am sure that when we can speak the language of these people we will be better able to get into their homes. Even though in many cases they can understand Chinese, the fact that they cannot speak it, and we cannot converse with them in their vernacular, causes them to turn us away and to look upon us with contempt. We have felt this very keenly, especially when we have visited the streets where every house is occupied by aboriginal families. They invariably turn us away. There are many villages surrounding Lungchow [Longzhou] where the women speak only [Zhuang], and in order to give them the witness we must know their language or take a woman who can speak for us."
Scripture Prayers for the Dianbao in China.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Global Prayer Digest: 2014-07-05 |
People Name General | Dianbao |
People Name in Country | Dianbao |
Pronunciation | Dee-ahn-bow |
Population this Country | 14,000 |
Population all Countries | 14,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Dienbo; Tianpao; Tienpao; Tienpo |
People ID | 18439 |
ROP3 Code | 114039 |
Country | China | ||
Region | Asia, Northeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 23 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | More than 10,000 Dianbao inhabit part of Funing County in the southeastern corner of Yunnan Province. Funing County is near the juncture where Vietnam, Yunnan, and Guangxi meet. The Funing area is inhabited by Miao, Yao, and Han Chinese people, in addition to other Zhuang language groups. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Country | China |
Region | Asia, Northeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 23 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | More than 10,000 Dianbao inhabit part of Funing County in the southeastern corner of Yunnan Province. Funing County is near the juncture where Vietnam, Yunnan, and Guangxi meet. The Funing area is inhabited by Miao, Yao, and Han Chinese people, in addition to other Zhuang language groups.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Primary Language | Zhuang, Yang (14,000 speakers) |
Language Code | zyg Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Zhuang, Yang (14,000 speakers) |
Language Code | zyg Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Zhuang, Yang |
Primary Language: Zhuang, Yang
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | The Story of Xiao Nong |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
95.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
5.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
Unknown
|
Independent |
Unknown
|
Orthodox |
Unknown
|
Other Christian |
Unknown
|
Protestant |
Unknown
|
Roman Catholic |
Unknown
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 Operation China, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | Joshua Project / Global Mapping International |
Profile Source | Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |