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Additional Information:
Most of the ethnic groups of
northeastern Thailand live in villages along the Mekong River and its
tributaries. They speak various languages which come from either the Mon
Khmer or Tai group. Most of the people are bilingual, speaking both
their native language and one of the Tai or Lao languages.
China is the original homeland of most of these tribes. They gradually
migrated southward due to pressure by the Chinese. As they traveled,
they conquered many peoples along the way. By the tenth century, a large
number of them had settled in Thailand.
 Northern
Thailand is the site of the early Mon kingdom which was founded in the
sixth century. In the thirteenth century, the kingdom was conquered by
the Thai. In the early part of the nineteenth century, the Thai forced
the Mon to leave their homes and relocate in the Mekong River region.
Today, these tribes live along both sides of the river. Over the years,
they have been absorbed by the dominant cultures of the region,
particularly the Lao and the Thai.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The tribal peoples of northeastern Thailand are primarily farmers. They
cultivate a wide variety of crops, such as rice, fruit, and vegetables,
for both consumption and trade. They are poorer than most of the
surrounding ethnic groups and are therefore dependent on the Thai for
many goods and services. The villagers frequently meet with the Thai to
trade meat and vegetables for necessary items such as clothing and salt.
Over the years, the tribes began adopting the practices of the
surrounding peoples, especially the Thai and Lao. This brought on many
significant changes within their cultures. For example, they no longer
use their traditional farming methods of burning and clearing plots.
Instead, they grow wet-rice on terraced plots, which is the agricultural
method of the Thai. They also raise their cattle and till their fields
much like the Lao. The fields are prepared with plows drawn by buffalo
or oxen. In addition, fishing and hunting have become important
activities.
Among these tribes, the village is considered the most significant
political unit of society. Each village is led by a headman, and each
family is led by the father. Rules concerning moral behavior vary from
tribe to tribe. For example, the Phuthai and Nyaw only allow marriages
within their own people groups; whereas, the other tribes now frequently
intermarry with the neighboring ethnic groups.
The village houses are usually made of wood or bamboo. They are built on
stilts above the ground, with farmlands adjacent to the residential
areas. Domestic fowl, pigs, and goats are allowed to run freely
underneath the houses.
Although most of the groups have adapted to the cultural traits of the
neighboring peoples, others, such as the Phuthai, retreated into the
surrounding hills as other ethnic groups advanced. Nevertheless, all of
the tribal communities have been affected by the Thai and Lao cultures.
Such things as traditional dress, language, educational methods,
housing, and public administration have all changed over the years. Only
a few distinctive, cultural characteristics have remained: the famous
"round dances" of the Saek women; the distinct silk scarves worn by the
So women around a bun of hair at their necks; the hand-woven silk of the
Phuthai women, made in unique colorful designs; and the traditional
"spirit doctors" of the Nyaw.
What are their beliefs?
Buddhism was introduced into Thailand in 329 B.C. and today, all of
these tribes are primarily Buddhist. However, most of them have mixed
elements of Buddhism with their traditional animistic beliefs (belief
that non-living objects have spirits). For this reason, the people often
seek help through supernatural spirits and objects.
Ancestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors for provision and
guidance) is also common. The ancestral spirits are thought to cause
illnesses if they are not appeased. Families usually have small altars
near their homes where sacrifices and offerings are made to the spirits.
The people also believe that each village has a "guardian spirit," as
well as various spirits that are linked to the elements of nature.
Many of the villagers who have little outside influence are still
strongly committed to spirit worship. They rely heavily on "spirit
doctors," who supposedly have great healing powers.
What are their needs?
Although all of the tribes in this region have at least one missions
agency targeting them, they remain unreached. Only one tribe, the So,
have portions of the Scriptures in their language. At the present time,
Christian broadcasts are only being aired among the Phuthai.
Bibles and other Christian literature, Christian broadcasts, and
additional laborers are desperately needed to effectively penetrate
these tribes with the Light of the Gospel. Prayer warriors are also
needed to faithfully begin interceding for these precious people.
Prayer Points
Ask God to encourage those living in northeastern Thailand who have
given their hearts to Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will complete the work begun in their hearts
through adequate discipleship.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth many laborers into the
fields of northeastern Thailand.
Pray that the Bible and other Christian literature will soon be made
available to each of these tribes.
Pray that God will begin revealing Himself to these precious people
through dreams and visions.
Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are
keeping these tribes in darkness.
Pray that God will call out prayer teams to break up the soil through
worship and intercession.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among each of these
tribes.
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Tai Southern |
| People Group: |
Tai
Southern |
 |
| Location: |
Southern Thailand |
| Population: |
4,976,000 |
| Religion: |
Buddhism |
| % Christian: |
0.80% |
| % Evangelical: |
0.19% |
| Ministry
Resources: |
Bible Portions,
Groups of Churches |
|
|
Total People Group
Population: |
4,980,000 |
Other countries People
Group Linked to: |
None |
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Additional Information:
The Southern Tai live in about
fourteen different provinces in southern Thailand. They usually live on
the beaches and in the marshy swamplands, which gradually reach the
foothills of jungle-covered mountains and into lush valleys. Although
Thai is the official language of the country, most Southern Tai speak
their tonal language, Dambro, at home.
Centuries ago, the Southern Tai lived in China. However, relentless
pressure by the Chinese gradually forced them to move southward. They
conquered many peoples and cultures as they sought a new homeland.
By the tenth century, they were in southern Thailand in substantial
numbers, mixing with the Mon-Khmer and Negritos of the land. A bloodless
revolution in 1932, led by Westernized intellectuals, instituted a
democratic constitutional monarchy. Since then, Thailand has had many
governmental changes and military upheavals.
What Are Their Lives Like?
 The
Southern Tai are extremely polite, respectful, and hospitable. Their
children are brought up to respect those of a higher rank and to become
self-reliant individuals. Age is highly respected in Southern Tai
society. Type of occupation, wealth, and place and type of residence
follow age in terms of respect and rank. Rural farmers rank below
craftsmen, merchants, and city government officials; and clergy are a
separate group.
Families are the core of Southern Tai society. In rural areas, the
entire immediate family lives together with mutual respect for each
other. A young married couple may live with the wife's family until they
can establish their own home.
Wet-rice farming and cattle breeding dominate the agricultural economy.
The Southern Tai are also skilled gardeners, famous for their large
fruit plantations. Rubber and coconuts are the most important products
in the far south. The marshes are rich in fish, and Southern Tai
fishermen deliver a quota of salted fish for export to Singapore. Tin
mining is another source of revenue.
The wealthier Southern Tai live in sturdy, wood-paneled homes that are
raised off the ground and have planked floors and tile roofs. Those with
less income typically live in bamboo framed houses with thatched roofs
and dirt floors. Hepatitis and malaria are severe problem in rural
areas.
What are their beliefs?
More than half of the Southern Tai are firm believers in Theravada
(orthodox) Buddhism, which was introduced into Thailand in 329 B.C. Tai
Buddhists devoutly follow the principles of Buddha (the "enlightened
one") and seek to eliminate suffering and improve their future by
gaining "merit" in their present lives. Ultimately, they are in pursuit
of nirvana, or perfect peace. They believe that merit can be acquired
through feeding monks, donating to temples, and frequently worshipping
in the temples. They also follow the old tradition that a man should
enter a Buddhist monastery for three months to study Buddhism.
The large Sunni Muslim influence comes from Malaysia. Southern Tai
Muslims believe wholeheartedly in semangat, a "soul substance" found in
everything from inanimate objects and animals to human beings. They
believe that the loss of semangat results in poor crops, poverty, and
illness. They believe that evil spirits cause illness, so every village
has a bomo, which is a man of high moral character who puts himself into
trances to exorcise the evil spirits and thus heal the sick person.
For the Southern Tai, Buddhism and Islam are both combined with folk
animism, a practice in which they seek help through the worship of
supernatural spirits and objects.
What are their needs?
Although several missions agencies have labored among the Southern Tai,
response has been low. Less than 1% of the Southern Tai are Christians
and the majority have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel.
The Bible and the Jesus film have not been translated into the Dambro
language and no Christian broadcasts are available to the Southern Tai.
Prayer Points
Pray that God will raise up prayer teams to break up the soil through
worship and intercession.
Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies targeting the
Southern Tai.
Ask God to speed the completion of the Jesus film and other evangelistic
materials into the Dambro language.
Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people through
dreams and visions.
Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number Southern
Tai Christians.
Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible
into the Dambro language.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Southern Tai towards
Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Southern Tai church for the
glory of His name!
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