The Zhuang (Yongnan, Dai, Nong, Yang, Zuojiang) are a collection of related Central Tai language groups which have been combined with the Northern Zhuang - a collection of Northern Tai language groups - to form China's official Zhuang nationality. There are many tribes, clans, and self designations among the Zhuang. Names such as Debao and Heiyi frequently appear in Chinese linguistic research.
During the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), half a million Han convicts were exiled by Emperor Qin Shihuang to the Lingnan region in southern China (now Guangxi and Guangdong). There they intermingled with the various branches of the Bai Yue nationality. The Zhuang today are thought to be the descendants of the Bai Yue. Historically, the Zhuang were called Tuliao or Sharen.
China's Guangxi Province is made up mostly of people from the Zhuang people groups. They live similar lives and each subgroup, including the Liujiang, is unreached with the gospel.
Their homes are usually built on stilts. A newly married woman stays with her parents until after the birth of the first child. Only then does she go to live with her husband in his village.
The Zhuang are a superstitious people. They are careful not to offend the spirit world that surrounds them. They believe in the spirits of the water, forest, mountain, village, etc.
The first Protestant missionary to the Zhuang was R. H. Graves, a Southern Baptist, who arrived in Guangxi in 1862. In 1895 the Christian & Missionary Alliance commenced work in Guangxi. They established 65 churches over a 50- year period. Most of these churches were attended by Han Chinese, but small numbers of Zhuang also attended. The Zhuang have great linguistic diversity. Little has changed since this 1922 report describing Guangxi: "There are 58 cities, 700 market towns, and over 17,000 villages, all teeming with human lives for whom no effort whatever is being put forth."
Scripture Prayers for the Zhuang, Yang in China.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-06-20 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2014-07-14 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-06-19 |
People Name General | Zhuang, Yang |
People Name in Country | Zhuang, Yang |
Natural Name | Yang Zhuang |
Pronunciation |
yahng zhoo-AHNG
|
Alternate Names | Nung |
Population this Country | 826,000 |
Population all Countries | 826,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 17 |
People ID | 19686 |
ROP3 Code | 115003 |
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 | The Zhuang are the largest minority group in China. With more than 17 million people, their population is approximately the same as the population of Australia. More than 11 million people speak the various Zhuang languages. The majority are located in the central and western parts of Guangxi in southern China. Others are scattered throughout 15 of the other 29 provinces in China, including one small Zhuang enclave in distant Shaanxi Province. 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 | The Zhuang are the largest minority group in China. With more than 17 million people, their population is approximately the same as the population of Australia. More than 11 million people speak the various Zhuang languages. The majority are located in the central and western parts of Guangxi in southern China. Others are scattered throughout 15 of the other 29 provinces in China, including one small Zhuang enclave in distant Shaanxi Province.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.14 %) |
0.20 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
90.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
9.80 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Zhuang, Yang (826,000 speakers) |
Language Code | zyg Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Zhuang, Yang (826,000 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 | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Photo Source | Rex Pe - Flickr 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. |