Thai in Myanmar (Burma)


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Buddhism (Theravada)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Central Thai, call themselves the Khon Thai, meaning "the free people". Centuries ago the Thai lived north of Yangtzekiang in China. Relentless pressure by the Chinese gradually forced them southward. They conquered many peoples and cultures as they sought a new homeland, and by the 10th century they had settled in Central Thailand. A bloodless revolution in 1932, led by Westernized intellectuals, instituted a democratic constitutional monarchy. However, the country has suffered numerous governmental upheavals since then. Today, Buddhism is the central and unifying force in Thai society and it maintains social control. The Central Thai speak Thai, the official language of the country. Some live outside of Thailand, including Myanmar.


Where Are they Located?

The vast majority of the Central Thai people live in Thailand where they are the dominant people, but some have migrated elsewhere. The Thai diaspora is much more likely to go to other parts of the world than Myanmar, but a few live there.


What Are Their Lives Like?

There is very little information about the Central Thai people in Myanmar. However, they have retained their cultural values no matter where they live in Southeast Asia.

The Central Thai are unusually polite, respectful, and hospitable people. Their children are brought up to respect those of a higher rank, with additional emphasis on independence and self-reliance. The Central Thai seldom use physical punishment to discipline children.

Age is highly respected in Central Thai society. Type of occupation, wealth, and place and type of residence follow age in terms of respect and rank. Rural farmers rank below artisans, merchants, and city government officials; clergy form a separate group. Families are the core of Thai society. In rural areas, the immediate family usually lives, eats, and farms together. A young married couple may live with the bride's family until they can establish their own home.

The Central Thai are distinguished by a near absence of labor division by gender. Both men and women plow, till, fish, cook, tend babies, clean house, and wash clothes. Rice is the major economic crop, providing both a food staple and a cash crop.


What Are Their Beliefs?

"Mai ben rai" is heard often on the lips of Central Thai Buddhists. Roughly translated it means "That's not an issue." The phrase expresses a deeply held Thai belief that things are not worth getting agitated over because that would cause one to leave the "middle path" of calmness as taught in Buddhism.
Theravada Buddhism was introduced in Thailand in 329 B.C. Almost all of the Thai are followers of Buddha ("the enlightened one") and seek to eliminate suffering and improve their future by gaining merit in pursuit of perfect peace, or nirvana. They believe they can acquire merit through feeding monks, donating to temples, and attending worship services.

Traditionally, young Thai men enter a Buddhist monastery for three months to study Buddhism. The Central Thai attempt to incorporate their Buddhist beliefs with folk animism, a practice in which they seek help through the worship of spirits and objects.


What Are Their Needs?

The Central Thai people in Myanmar need to find a way to hear that Jesus Christ offers salvation and eternal life to people from all nations.


Prayer Points

Ask God to raise prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask God to send Christian teachers and medical teams to work among the Central Thai people in Thailand and Myanmar.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Central Thai people in Myanmar towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Central Thai people throughout Southeast Asia.


Scripture Prayers for the Thai in Myanmar (Burma).


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/11277/TH
http://www.expat.com/en/nationalities/thai/in/asia/myanmar/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thais_in_Burma
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.travel.asia/3IwxON33jxc
http://2bangkok.com/2bangkok-news-7366.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Thai


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Thai
People Name in Country Thai
Pronunciation tye
Alternate Names Bangkok Thai; Central Tai; Khon Tai; Lao Song; Siamese; Siamese Thai; Tai Noi; Thai Khom; Thai Klang; Thai Song
Population this Country 44,000
Population all Countries 24,271,000
Total Countries 29
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11277
ROP3 Code 101940
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 17  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 17  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism (Theravada)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
99.40 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.40 %)
0.60 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Thai (44,000 speakers)
Language Code tha   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Thai (44,000 speakers)
Language Code tha   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Thai

Primary Language:  Thai

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1834-1967)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1843-1977)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1883-2020)
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 God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Thai Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Thai YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Thai Contemporary Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ ขจง. Bible League
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: ข่าวดี Thai: Good News Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Thai YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ ขจง. Bible League
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Thai Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Deepak Meena - Pixabay 
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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