After the Mongolians took control of China in the thirteenth century, great ethnic upheavals took place in southern China as people groups moved about in all directions seeking to avoid the fierce Mongol armies. At this time many of the small people groups in Guizhou, possibly including the Diao, formed separate identities.
The Diao applied for recognition as a distinct minority group in the 1950s, but their application, along with 90% of the more than 400 groups who applied, was rejected. The official classification of the Diao remained in limbo for more than 30 years. In the 1982 census they were included in a list of undetermined minorities. After scholars visited them to further investigate their application, the Diao were incorporated into the official Dong nationality in 1985. There appears to have been an official push in the mid- 1980s to "tie up the loose ends" of the many minority groups that remained unclassified. Although some groups such as the Diao were assigned to official nationalities, they still regard themselves as distinct from the other people in the group they now find themselves part of. Surrounding peoples in Guizhou continue to call this group Diao or Diaozu, which means "Diao nationality."
Among minority peoples in Guizhou, an important part of a woman's life is the making of her traditional dress. Each tribe's dress has its own background story which reflect that group's customs, history, and beliefs. Cultural identity is therefore maintained by the making and wearing of the garments.
The Diao are animists. They worship the spirit of the bull, which they believe to possess supernatural strength. The Diao participate in the annual Dong bullfights. Some elements of ancestor worship and Daoism are also present among the Diao.
It is not known if Christianity has made any impact among the Diao people, but the large Dong nationality among whom they live has received little exposure to the gospel throughout their history. It can safely be assumed that most Diao have no comprehension of the name of Jesus Christ.
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 Diao in China.
Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2017/07/08
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-07-08 |
People Name General | Diao |
People Name in Country | Diao |
Pronunciation | Dee-ow |
Alternate Names | Diaoren; Diaozu |
Population this Country | 2,800 |
Population all Countries | 2,800 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 18440 |
ROP3 Code | 114040 |
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 | More than 2,000 members of the Diao ethnic group live in an unspecified location in the southeastern part of Guizhou Province in southern China. All that is known of the location of the Diao is that they live among the Dong people. The Dong in Guizhou are concentrated in Rongjiang, Congjiang, and Liping counties. The whole of southeast Guizhou is mountainous with abundant rainfall. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
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 | More than 2,000 members of the Diao ethnic group live in an unspecified location in the southeastern part of Guizhou Province in southern China. All that is known of the location of the Diao is that they live among the Dong people. The Dong in Guizhou are concentrated in Rongjiang, Congjiang, and Liping counties. The whole of southeast Guizhou is mountainous with abundant rainfall.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
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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 %
|
Primary Language | Chinese, Mandarin (2,800 speakers) |
Language Code | cmn Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Chinese, Mandarin (2,800 speakers) |
Language Code | cmn Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Chinese, Mandarin |
Primary Language: Chinese, Mandarin
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1864-1986) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1857-1981) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1874-2018) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Operation China, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |