Kim Mun in Laos


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Different studies have given differing populations for the Kim Mun people group in Laos. Laurent Chazee, in 1995, listed 4,500 Kim Mun people inhabiting 25 villages in northern Laos. Twenty-one villages are in Luang Namtha Province, including 8 in Namo District, which could be considered the central point of the Kim Mun in Laos. Three villages are in Oudomxai Province and just one in Bokeo Province. The 1996 Ethnologue, however, cites a different 1995 study which showed there to be 3,600 Kim Mun in 770 families. In addition, there are 4,000 people in Phongsali Province who call themselves Lanten. They speak a different dialect and wear different dress from the Kim Mun. Because of their ethno-linguistic differences we have profiled this latter group under the name Lanten, although there is little doubt they were once part of the same group.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The vast majority of Kim Mun live in China. This figure includes Hainan Island. The Kim Mun are also located in northern Myanmar, Vietnam; and Switzerland and the United States, where they have migrated as refugees in recent decades. In Laos the Kim Mun population may be decreasing because of disease and rampant drug addiction.
Research into the Kim Mun is often clouded because of the many names they are known by. In Laos they are often called Lao Huay or Lanten. The name Lanten is a Chinese term meaning 'those who make dye'. Their autonym, Kim Mun, means 'the people in the forest'. To complicate matters even further, the Chinese often call them Shanzi Yao, meaning 'Mountaineer Yao'.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kim Mun are one of only a few ethnic groups in Laos who follow Daoism. Because of the influence of Daoism texts, the Kim Mun read the Chinese script best. Ancestor worship is also an integral part of their beliefs.
There are believed to be between 85 and 100 Kim Mun Christians in Laos, living in a few villages.


Prayer Points

Pray they will turn from Daoism and ancestor worship to follow Christ.
Pray God's Word would soon be made available in the Kim Mun language.
Ask God to strengthen, bless and multiply the small number of believers among the Kim Mun in Laos.


Scripture Prayers for the Kim Mun in Laos.


References

Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kim Mun
People Name in Country Kim Mun
Pronunciation KEEM moon
Alternate Names Asian Yao; Dao; Highland Yao; Kem Mun; Lan Dian; Lanten; Lantien; Lenten; Lowland Yao
Population this Country 7,500
Population all Countries 559,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 12688
ROP3 Code 105005
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Luang Namtha, Oudomxai, and Bokeo provinces. 25 villages.   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Luang Namtha, Oudomxai, and Bokeo provinces. 25 villages..   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
10.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 10.00 %)
12.00 %
Ethnic Religions
78.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kim Mun (7,500 speakers)
Language Code mji   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kim Mun (7,500 speakers)
Language Code mji   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kim Mun

Primary Language:  Kim Mun

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
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National Bible Societies
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Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Jean Francois Perigois  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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