Pale De'ang in China


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

Introduction / History

The De'ang were originally part of one great Austro-Asiatic peoples. It appears the De'ang and Wa shared a common identity in the past but split off from each other when the De'ang embraced Buddhism. The Wa remained animists.

The Pale De'ang are one of four distinct groups that have been combined to form the official De'ang nationality in China. In Myanmar, they are called Palaung. Palaung is a Burmese word. The Chinese authorities originally named this minority the Benglong - a Chinese transliteration of Palaung - but after consultation in 1982 they changed their name to De'ang.

A 1987 survey listed 6,000 speakers of the De'ang Pale language in China. They are located in Luxi County in the western part of Yunnan Province, close to the Myanmar border. The Pale area is just east of the Rumai. In addition, between 200,000 and 300,000 Pale live in northern Myanmar. More than 5,000 also live near Fang in northwest Thailand. They were war refugees from Myanmar in the early 1980s.

De'ang is a member of the Mon-Khmer language family. It is related to Bulang and Wa. Pale is the only one of the four De'ang languages that is not tonal. In Myanmar the Pale language is quite uniform despite its large geographical dispersion.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most De'ang are employed in agriculture, farming and logging. Work tasks are assigned according to age and sex. The men perform demanding tasks such as plowing, while the women plant seeds and fetch water. The De'ang have been culturally influenced by their Dai neighbors and celebrate many of the same festivals.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Many centuries ago the De'ang converted to Theravada Buddhism. Their Buddhist practices are mixed with numerous animistic beliefs and rituals. Shamans, or witch doctors, are powerful figures in De'ang society. They don't undertake any important event without first consulting a shaman. He goes into a trance to determine whether or not an event should occur and when the most auspicious date and time would be.

The De'ang are considered relatively resistant to Christianity. The majority are trapped in fear of demons and shamans. Few missionaries in the past have tried to reach the De'ang in China. In 1945 work among them was described as "completely virgin soil." A handful of De'ang families in western Yunnan were converted before foreign missionaries were expelled from China in the early 1950s. Today, approximately one out of every thousand De'ang in Myanmar is a Christian. The few minor breakthroughs that have occurred among the Pale De'ang in Myanmar have often resulted in violent persecution and martyrdom. The Pale De'ang have gospel radio broadcasts and the JESUS Film in their language. Although the broadcasts are focused on Myanmar, it is believed listeners are also able to receive the shortwave signal in China.


What Are Their Needs?

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.


Prayer Points

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 De'ang, Pale in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

Shan State

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Palaung, Pale
People Name in Country De'ang, Pale
Natural Name Pale De'ang
Pronunciation pah-LAY day-AHNG
Alternate Names Benglong; Bonglong; Bonglung; Bulei; Darang; Deang; De'ang Pale; Manton; Nam Hsan; Ngwe; Ngwe Palaung; Palaung; Pale Palaung; Palong; PalPalay; Penglung; Silver; Silver Palaung; Southern Ta'ang; Taang
Population this Country 11,000
Population all Countries 312,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 14178
ROP3 Code 109011
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Mandalay Region, Katha and Pyinoolwin townships; Shan State, Taunggyi district.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Mandalay Region, Katha and Pyinoolwin townships; Shan State, Taunggyi district..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of De'ang, Pale in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism (Theravada)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
99.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.12 %)
0.12 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.88 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Palaung, Ruching (11,000 speakers)
Language Code pce   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Palaung, Ruching (11,000 speakers)
Language Code pce   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Palaung, Ruching
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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