Tai Nua in Myanmar (Burma)


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

Introduction / History

Although the Tai Nua are part of the official Dai nationality in China, they speak their own distinct language. They should not be confused with the identically named but different Tai Nua of Laos. Linguists have pointed out that Tai Nua is "a name given to at least two quite different southwestern branch groups." The Tai Nua profiled here are members of the Southwestern branch of the Tai language family, while the Tai Mao language spoken throughout Dehong Prefecture is similar to the Shan language of Myanmar.This Tai Nua group is mostly found in southern China, but also in northern Vietnam and Myanmar.


What Are Their Lives Like?

After a Tai Nua wedding ceremony the bridegroom goes to live with his bride's family. Traditionally he must take with him gifts of tea, rice, meat, bananas, four eggs, and two salted fish for his new in-laws. Upon arrival, the village elder takes the packets of tea and rice out to the road and calls on the spirits of heaven and earth to witness the marriage. He then ties a white thread seven times around the wrist of the bride and once around the wrist of the groom to indicate their unbreakable commitment to each other.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although they are nominally Theravada Buddhists, the Tai Nua have many aspects of animism and polytheism mixed into their beliefs. The very first Tai god was Shalou, the god of hunting. Before a hunt, they offered sacrifices to Shalou to avert danger and to ensure success in the hunt.
There are few Christians among the Tai Nua and very little outreach is presently focused on bringing the gospel to them. Little improvement in their spiritual condition has taken place since the 1920s when one missionary lamented, "There is not a missionary working south of [Kunming] to Mohei, I am here alone and my little candle is the only light. Yet in these mountains are thousands of tribesmen who have never heard of the gospel."


What Are Their Needs?

The Tai Nua people need to hear that Jesus Christ offers them so much more than the spirit world ever can offer them.


Prayer Points

Pray for openness to the gospel among Tai Nua elders and commoners.
Pray for the Lord to send dreams and visions of the Risen Christ to these people who have very little chance to hear his name.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to transform Tai Nua communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Tai Nua, Chinese Shan in Myanmar (Burma).


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tai Nua, Chinese Shan
People Name in Country Tai Nua, Chinese Shan
Natural Name Tai Nua
Pronunciation tie NOO-ah
Alternate Names Chinese Shan; Dai; Dai Kong; Dai Le; Dai Loe; Dai Mao; Dai Mo; Dai Na; Dai Nue; Dai Nuea; Dehong; Dungan; Eastern Shan; Hakka; Han Chinese; Han-Paiyi; Kang; Kong; Loe; Mandarin; Mao Shan; Maw; Northern Shan; Nua; Paiyi; Shan Tayok; Tai Che; Tai Khe; Tai Kong; Tai Le; Tai Loe; Tai Neua; Tai Nua; Tai Nue; Tai Nuea; Tai Yai; Yunnanese
Population this Country 104,000
Population all Countries 718,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 15193
ROP3 Code 109720
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)
Location in Country North Shan State; east Kachin State.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
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)
Location in Country North Shan State; east Kachin State..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Tai Nua, Chinese Shan in Myanmar (Burma) Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism (Theravada)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
99.89 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.11 %)
0.11 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tai Nua (104,000 speakers)
Language Code tdd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tai Nua (104,000 speakers)
Language Code tdd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tai Nua

Primary Language:  Tai Nua

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1931-1948)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) 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 Jesus Film: view in Tai Nua Jesus Film Project
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Arian Zwegers - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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