Lao Wieng in Thailand

The Lao Wieng have only been reported in Thailand
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Thais name this group Wieng because they are the descendants of prisoners of war who originally came from Wieng (Vientiane) in Laos. Joachim Schliesinger, in his excellent book Tai Groups in Thailand, recounts the tumultuous time that led to this group being present in Thailand today: 'Because of rivalry for the throne, the once united and powerful Lao kingdom of Lan Xang split in 1713 into three weak kingdoms. The result was that the rulers of all three states soon had to acknowledge Siamese suzerainty. King Anuvong of Vientiane took offense at the Siamese taking thousands of Lao slaves for doing corvée labor in central Siam. In 1827, he recruited a large army to attack the Siamese garrison in Nakhon Ratchasima and seized vast areas in the Isan region. The Siamese army immediately counterattacked and overran the Lao defense. Within a few days the Siamese sacked Vientiane and following an order from their King Nangklao (Rama III) totally destroyed Vientiane, completely depopulating it and deporting thousands of its inhabitants—the Lao Wieng—to central Thailand as war captives.'

After generations as slaves, the Lao Wieng and other communities were granted their freedom by King Chulalongkorn. Today they are full citizens of Thailand.

The Lao Wieng do not usually appear on lists of ethnic groups in Thailand, but there is little doubt that they are a group with a cohesive self-identity, a common history and a proud culture.

Most live in central and north-east Thailand are known as the Lao Wieng. They inhabit villages in the provinces of Prachinburi, Udon Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Pathom, Chai Nat, Lopburi, Saraburi, Phetchaburi and Roi Et. In the past 20 years a significant number of Lao Wieng have moved to Bangkok in search of employment.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Despite their long separation from their homeland, the Lao Wieng still retain different cultural and linguistic traits from the Thais surrounding them. Until recently Lao Wieng women wore a traditional dress, which consisted of a knee-length phaa sin, woven from rough cotton and interwoven with several multicolored stripes of cloth. These days the Lao Wieng wear the same clothing as their Thai neighbors (except for certain festivals). The Lao Wieng men who live in farming areas are hard-working agriculturists, while those living in more remote rural locations are skilled hunters and fishermen.


What Are Their Beliefs?

From long before their forced departure from Laos, the Lao Wieng have been Buddhists. 'The spirits, however, must be propitiated by offerings of food at small spirit houses located in the compound or under the eaves of houses. Every Lao Wieng village has a communal spirit house outside the village, where the villagers meet once a year to bring sacrifices of chicken, pig heads, and rice whiskey to the guardian of the village, to ask for protection and good luck for the community.' There are just a few Christians among this needy unreached people group.


What Are Their Needs?

The Lao Wieng people need to put their trust and identity in the hands of the loving God of Creation who sent his son to make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God and have life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray God will have mercy on the Lao Wieng, doing whatever it takes to place them in a position to receive him.

Pray for the spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so they can understand and respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Lao Wieng in Thailand.


References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Lao Wieng
People Name in Country Lao Wieng
Alternate Names Lao Wiengchan; Tai Wieng; Thai Wiengchan; Vieng; Wiang
Population this Country 59,000
Population all Countries 59,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19272
ROP3 Code 115541
ROP25 Code 304598
ROP25 Name Lao
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country They inhabit villages in the provinces of Prachinburi, Udon Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Pathom, Chai Nat, Lopburi, Saraburi, Phetchaburi and Roi Et.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country They inhabit villages in the provinces of Prachinburi, Udon Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Pathom, Chai Nat, Lopburi, Saraburi, Phetchaburi and Roi Et..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
79.97 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.03 %)
0.03 %
Ethnic Religions
20.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Language unknown (59,000 speakers)
Language Code xxx   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Language unknown (59,000 speakers)
Language Code xxx   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Language unknown

Primary Language:  Language unknown

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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