Introduction / History The Hmong Daw (called "White Miao" by the Chinese) take their name from the traditional color of their women's skirts. However, "In many locations in China the Hmong Daw have adopted the dialect and clothing styles of other Hmong groups, most notably the Light Hmong [Hmong Leng] but in more remote areas ... the dialect is still very strong and 'pure.'"
The Hmong Daw are scattered throughout southern China and Southeast Asia as a result of Chinese military attacks. The conventional method of these wars was to besiege the Hmong [Miao] from three sides, leaving only mountains to the west open to escape. "The defeated Miao retreated through the hills ... relying on their matchless climbing skills. This explains a Miao inclination to describe the west as a desirable destination." A traditional Hmong rhyme says, "Over the western mountains of ten thousand cloud-capped crags and over the cliff, will be a paradise; over the peaks will be flourishing life."
What are their lives like? Hmong Daw women are skilled embroiderers. Mothers teach their daughters these skills at an early age.
What are their beliefs? For centuries the Hmong Daw were animists, living in fear of the spirits around them. Few Hmong Daw in China had heard the gospel, although many churches were established among their relatives in Thailand and Laos. In 1993 an old Hmong Daw man heard his language being spoken while tuning his radio. Soon thousands of Hmong Daw were listening to the gospel broadcasts daily, learning about Christ and the path of salvation. After a few months, 18 villages in southern China turned en masse to Christ. Thousands of people reported receiving a "new heart."
In 1919 missionary Gladstone Porteous wrote, "Quite recently the White Miao [Hmong Daw] have shown interest in the Gospel. ... [They asked] for an evangelist to go with them, and help them to burn up their objects of demon worship and teach them the gospel." Radio broadcasts have proven to be a highly effective tool for evangelizing the Hmong Daw. In the mid-1950s hundreds of Hmong Daw in Laos came to Christ as a result of radio broadcasts. The recent "radio revival" has been fueled by the delivery of Bibles in their language.
What are their needs? Without the guidance of Christ, these people will be spiritually lost in this life and the life to come. They need someone to go to them as Christ-bearers.
Prayer Points Pray for the spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so they can understand and respond to Christ.
Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.
Pray that the Hmong Daw people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.
Linguist Michael Johnson lists a figure of 220,000 speakers of Hmong Daw in China, of which more than 200,000 live in Wenshan Prefecture in Yunnan Province. In addition, approximately 230,000 Hmong Daw live in Vietnam, 169,800 in Laos, 70,000 in the United States (primarily in Minnesota and California), 60,000 in Thailand, and 10,000 in France. In China most Hmong Daw are located along the China- Vietnam border in Yunnan, in the western part of Guangxi, and in southwesten Guizhou. (Source: Operation China, 2000)
JP Unreached of Day
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