Pray for Northern Dong in China

Northern Dong in China ( From Joshua Project )

Introduction / History
Although the Northern and Southern Dong speak different languages, they have been combined to form the official Dong nationality in China. The two groups are also culturally different. The Northern Dong have been assimilated into Chinese culture much more than their southern counterparts. The Dong call themselves Kam.

儘管南北侗族使用不同的語言，但他們最終合併形成了中國的官方民族－侗族。這兩個民族在文化上也存在差異。北侗比南侗更融入中國文化。侗族自稱侗族。

The Dong were not known by that name until this century. In the past they were part of the ancient Yue peoples, which dominated southern China. The Dong have many ancient myths and legends about the origin of the world.

直到本世紀才以侗族這個名稱為人所知。侗族過去曾是古代越族的一部分，而越族則統治中國南方。侗族流傳著許多關於世界起源的古老神話和傳說。

What Are Their Lives Like?
One of the visually striking aspects of a Dong community is the Drum Tower. For centuries, the Dong have used the tower as the rallying point of the community: a place where the village gathers for an emergency, celebrates a wedding, and where young Dong couples sing love songs to each other. One source states that there are more than 30 distinct Dong dialect groups in China, and that marriage is rare between members of the various groups.

他們的生活是什麼樣的？

侗族社區最引人注目的景觀之一就是鼓樓。幾個世紀以來，侗族人民一直將鼓樓作為社區的聚集點：它是全村人緊急集結、舉行婚禮的地方，也是侗族青年情侶們互相吟唱情歌的地方。有資料顯示，中國有30多個不同的侗語族，不同族群之間通婚的情況並不多見。

What Are Their Beliefs?
The Dong believe in many gods. They regard certain mountains, trees, stones, and other nonhuman objects as sacred. This is reflected in the Dong custom of planting a fir tree for each newborn baby. Some Dong in remote areas practice a form of black magic called Tu. The Dong worship the kitchen god during the Spring and Fall festivals. A growing number of Dong youth are nonreligious.

侗族信仰多神。他們視某些山脈、樹木、石頭和其他非人類的物體為神聖之物。侗族為每個新生兒種植一棵樅樹的習俗就體現了這一點。一些偏遠地區的侗族人信奉一種名為「土」的黑魔法。侗族人在春秋兩季祭拜灶神。越來越多的侗族青年沒有宗教信仰。

Although they are considered relatively open to the gospel, the Dong remain one of the most neglected minority groups in China. Today there are an estimated 600 Northern Dong Christians, a meager number considering their large population of more than one million. Most Dong have never heard the gospel. Both Protestant and Catholic missionaries were active among the Dong prior to the introduction of communism in 1949. Several churches were built, but the gospel never took a firm hold among the Dong. Efforts are underway to produce a Roman script for them. Many Northern Dong could now be reached by Chinese-language media.

儘管侗族對福音的接受程度相對較高，但他們仍然是中國最受忽視的少數民族之一。如今，侗族北部大約有600名基督徒，考慮到侗族超過一百萬的龐大人口，這個數字微不足道。大多數侗族人從未聽過福音。在1949年之前，基督教和天主教傳教士都在侗族中活躍。雖然建造了幾座教堂，但福音從未在侗族中紮根。目前正在努力為侗族文字編寫羅馬字母。現在，許多北侗居民可以透過中文媒體了解福音。

What Are Their Needs?
Northern Dong people in Chinas will be lost in this life and the life to come without the guidance of Lord Jesus. They need someone to go to them representing Christ.

中國北侗人民若沒有主耶穌的帶領，今生和來世都會迷失，他們需要有人代表基督到他們中間。

Prayer Items
Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families as he calls them to his side.
Pray for workers who love them.
Pray for them to be drawn to the Lord of lords.
Pray for a growing movement of church planting in their communities.

祈求主在呼召他們歸向祂的時候，介入他們的家庭。
祈求愛他們的工人。
祈求他們被吸引歸向萬主之主。
祈求在他們的社區中，植堂運動日益壯大。

More than one million speakers of the Northern Dong language live in the area of southern China where the provinces of Guizhou and Hunan meet. In addition, a small number live far to the north in Enshi County in southwestern Hubei. In 1990 the Northern Dong amounted to 36% of the total Dong population of 2.54 million. Source: Operation China, 2000

超過一百萬使用北侗語的人居住在中國南部貴州省和湖南省交界的地區。此外，還有少數人居住在湖北省西南部恩施縣的偏北地區。 1990年，北侗語人口占侗族總人口（254萬）的36%。   資料來源：  中國行動，2000年

侗（北）民族（萬民網）

有100万多名说北侗族话的人生活在中国南部贵州省和湖南省交界处的地方，大部分北侗族人生活在湖南省的新晃县和贵州省的天柱县。除此之外，一小部分的北侗族人生活在湖北省西南的恩施县。1990年侗族总人口为254万，北侗族人口是它的36%。虽然北侗族和南侗族说不同的语言，但是他们被官方合并，组成了中国的侗族。这两个民族在文化上是不同的，北侗族比南侗族被汉族同化得更严重。北侗族人一般会说两种语言，他们大多会说汉语，而南侗族人则做不到。许多北侗族人能熟练地说普通话，贵州话和湘话。侗族人社区的一处吸引人的地方是鼓塔。许多世纪以来，侗族一直将这个塔用作聚集族人的地点，村民们遇到紧急情况就在塔下集合，婚礼庆祝在塔下，年轻小伙和姑娘互唱情歌也在塔下。侗族信仰多神，他们认为山、树、石头以及其他非人的物品都很神圣。这也反映在侗族的风俗上：他们要为新生儿植下一棵枞树。侗族是在中国最受传道人忽视的少数民族之一。至今约有600名北侗族基督徒，对于一个人口超过100万的民族来说，这个数字是太微不足道了。大多数侗族从未听到过福音。

通称：侗
民族：侗族
人口：1990年：907,560
2000年1,170,700
2010年（预计）：1,510,200主要聚居地：
贵州省东部的天柱县、三穗县、剑河县以及锦屏县、湖南省西部的新晃县、靖州县，湖北省西南部的恩施县
其他国家：
官方身份：侗族支系之一
主要信仰：万物有灵，崇拜鬼神
基督徒：600人（0.1%）
请为侗（北）族祷告：
愿将自己交托给神的基督徒定睛北侗族，去北侗族中传福音并培植教会。恳求神在北侗族中兴起信徒。愿北侗族给耶稣基督带来荣耀和尊崇。