Here's a couple articles written about the Iumien/Mien by OMF International, a Christian Missionary.
IU-MIEN OF CHINA
The Iu Mien have a legend. It concerns an emperor of China named Pien Hung who was attacked by an even greater emperor, Kao Wang. Pien Hung was facing defeat when a dog, Phan Hu, broke through the lines, attacked Emperor Wang and brought back his head in victory to Pien Hung. He was rewarded with marriage to one of Hung's daughters. They ran off into the hills and eventually had 12 children. The descendants of those are the 12 clans of the Iu Mien. Many Iu Mien remember their ancestral heritage by three hand-written books: the "Book of Days" which they consult for auspicious days to marry or engage in important activity, the "Ancestor Book" which names nine generations of ancestors, and a "Mien Passport" which was issued by Emperor Pien Hung to Mien living in China, allowing them freedom to travel and cultivate land in his territory. Few, however, have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Population and Geographical Distribution
Over 1 million Iu Mien live in the hilly counties of the provinces of Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan, Hunan and Guizhou. They are one of the Yao peoples, one of the 55 nationally recognized minorities in China. The word "Yao" is used to cover four major subgroups which are unrelated. These are divided into 15-20 people groups, each with their own language and culture. The Iu Mien are the largest of all those called "Yao," but not all Yao are Iu Mien.
Language
The Iu Mien language belongs to the Miao-Yao branch of the Han-Tibetan family, and many of its dialects resemble Miao dialects. Owing to centuries of contact with the Han and Zhuang peoples, many Yao speak the Han and Zhuang languages. There are five major dialects. Yao is a written language; written Han is also in common use.
Livelihood
The Yao living in the provinces of Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi are dry rice farmers whose economy is similar to that of neighboring Han and Zhuang. Some Yao tribes engage in forestry, collect and sell medicinal herbs and make charcoal, as well as farm. Yao women are skilled at brocade, embroidery and batik. The Yao along Tea Hill in the Jinxiu (Yao) Autonomous County, Guangxi, work in the paddy fields and on hillsides and earn a good income from such cash crops as mushrooms, edible fungus and star anise.
Culture
The Iu Mien have been described as "slow-motion nomads" because they move their hillside villages from time to time when soil is no longer productive for their rice farming. From two to fifty or sixty might live in one house, married sons living with their parents, in wooden houses with thatch roofs. Two doors allow entry, one for men and guests, the other for women, leading to the kitchen areas. Another "big door" leads to the ancestral altar and gives easy entrance for the spirits when necessary.
Young people choose their mates with parental agreement and a substantial bride price is paid. The Iu Mien show special respect to their maternal uncles. In some places, the daughter of a paternal aunt must wed the son of a maternal uncle. The girl can only marry outside the family if the uncle has no sons, but the uncle is still entitled to a dowry from his sister's family. Harmonious relationships are very important in Iu Mien culture.
Though the women's basic costume is a black tunic and turban, everything from their loose-fitting pants to shoulder bags are intricately embroidered. The skull caps worn by babies and toddlers have large red pompoms.
The Iu Mien have a rich folk literature, including many myths, legends and folktales. They also produce many folk songs to express their thoughts and inner feelings.
Religion
The Iu Mien believe in Daoism and practice ancestor worship. They also believe in a variety of gods and demons, and fear spirits of the dead, especially spirits who were adversaries in life. Merit-making ceremonies and sacrifices regulate their relationship with the spirits.
They also believe an individual has many souls. When one soul leaves, sickness occurs; when all the souls leave, the person dies. One spirit, however, is reincarnated. Sickness is handled by a shaman, who is especially open to dealings with the spirit world. At death, a piece of silver is placed in the mouth of the deceased and a three-day ceremony follows with sacrifices of pigs and large amounts of paper money. The spirits are invited into a straw effigy of the deceased individual which is then beaten and taken out into the jungle to prevent those spirits from entering the village.
Church Situation
Early mission work by Catholic Christians brought the Roman Catholic faith to Iu Mien in Shangsi County of Guangxi and Liannan County of Guangdong. Prior to 1949 there was some Protestant mission work among the Iu Mien. Translation of the New Testament was completed in 1975 and it is being printed by Amity in China. According to some reports, there may be 10,000 Iu Mien Christians. In recent years Iu Mien living in Yunnan have come to know Christ because of gospel radio broadcasts in their language. In 2006 the complete Bible should be translated into their language.
MIEN OF THAILAND
Population and Geographical Distribution
The Mien are a sub-group of the Yao in China, and they originated from Southwest China. There are over 34,000 Mien living in 173 villages in North Thailand. Some are found in Laos (21,000) and Vietnam (531,000) with the majority still in China. There are about 1 million Yao living in China. The Yao found in Thailand are the Yiu Mien, one of the major Mien groups.
Language
Linguistically, the Mien language belongs to the Miao-Yao family. It has been rendered in Thai-based and romanized script. The Mien, however, have a tradition of writing based on Chinese characters.
Religion
The Mien combine two religious beliefs: animism and Daoism, as it was practiced in the 13th and 14th centuries. The National Statistical Office in 1988 reported 32% Buddhist, 37% animist, 26% Buddhist/animist and 5% Christian. The Daoist rituals are expensive, and the Mien appear to spend a great deal of time struggling to save enough money to afford the various ceremonies, such as weddings, merit-making and death ceremonies.
Livelihood
The Mien economy was previously based upon shifting cultivation of dry rice, corn, and small quantities of opium poppy. Today, the Mien are establishing farms and are more settled.
Christian Missions
OMF began working among the Mien in North Thailand in 1952. Today, a team of OMF missionaries continues to work among the Mien. One OMF missionary is currently preparing a new translation of the Bible in Mien. Having completed the New Testament and the Pentatauch, she is now translating the rest of the Old Testament. Christian Mien radio broadcasts are also being aired.
Christianity
There are 14 church groups that meet in three districts: North, Central and South. As the villages are small, the average congregation is around 20 adults. For many years, the main problem in the Mien church has been nominalism. Recently, however, many appear to have come into an understanding faith, but the church groups are still characterized by a general lack of commitment. Promising young Mien Christians leave their villages for the larger towns in pursuit of tertiary education and employment.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
About the Mien
There are many articles written about the Iumien/Mien people. Below are two articles that I found interesting because they were written by missionaries with the intention of converting some to Christianity. Both articles were written in 1997 and it's pretty accurate with their descriptions of our culture and beliefs.
Prayer Profile
The Highland Yao of Laos
The Highland Yao, also known as the Mien, are people of the mountains and people of learning. Unlike their neighbors, they are villagers with a strong tradition of literacy. Although they are found throughout the northern tier of Southeast Asia, they look to China as their ancestral homeland.
Centuries ago, while living in northern China, the Yao were constantly pushed southward by the expansion of the Han people. In the late 1800's, feuding warlords challenged one another for control of new lands, including those occupied by the Highland Yao. Villagers began crossing the border into Southeast Asia, particularly into Burma and Laos. The Highland Yao found that. northern Laos provided high mountains, virgin jungles, and a non-intrusive government—favorable conditions for establishing prosperous communities. Many believe that the Highland Yao are distantly related to the Hmong who also migrated from northern China and who are linguistically similar. The language of the Highland Yao is Mian.
What Are Their Lives Like
Houses in the Highland Yao villages are made of durable hardwood and have packed dirt floors. They are large enough for ceremonial gatherings and sturdy enough to withstand strong hurricane-force winds and torrential rains that sweep across the highlands of Laos. Villagers cultivate rice and corn, and gather wild jungle products such as resin and honey to trade with Lao merchants. Their principal cash crop, however, is opium. The "black tar" opium can be used as money when doing business with Chinese traders. Without health services, opium has been an important drug, but has also caused serious addictions.
Social status in the Highland Yao villages is determined by behavior, accomplishment, generosity with others, and scholarship in religious studies. The basic village household may consist of a man, his wife, their unmarried children, their married sons and daughters-in-law, their grandchildren, and other relatives. Because the extended family lives together, child rearing is a cross-generational affair, with grandparents giving the young parents "on the job training."
Each person has a well-defined role in Yao society. Women are generally responsible for the day-to-day essentials of life, while men are concerned with the long-term welfare of the family. Men are also responsible for relations between the living family, their dead ancestors, and the world of spirits. In the villages, men fell the jungle trees and burn the areas to be cultivated. The women plant, hoe, and harvest. Villages work together in building houses and clearing fields, and celebrate together at feasts.
Within each village community, there are a select few who gain prominence because of their literacy in Chinese. Young men from well-to-do families study and master Chinese characters in the expression of Yao concepts. They become experts in the writing of ritual texts and family genealogies.
Highland Yao dress reinforces their ethnic identity. Yao men wear distinctive earrings and specially embroidered tunics. Women wear elaborate costumes with bright red wool collars. Infants wear intricately embroidered caps, believed to protect them from harm from malevolent spirits.
What Are Their Belief?
The religion of the Highland Yao is far more than a component of their culture. It is a total belief system that explains all the natural events of life and provides a way to gain control over those events. The Yao are influenced by their ancestors, as well as by their animistic beliefs (the belief that the natural world around them is inhabited by spirits). Time and resources are spent to make sure that the ancestors remain content and the spirits are pacified. Rituals that reflect a blending of Taoist belief and animism are often conducted by well-trained priests.
What Are Their Needs?
As with most animistic cultures, the Highland Yao live in fear of displeasing the spirits of ancestors or nature. A desire to be free from fear and their emphasis on kindness and generosity within society would provide an opening for the Gospel. Prayer is the key to seeing them reached for Christ.
Prayer Points
-Take authority over the spiritual principalities that are keeping the Highland Yao bound.
-Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to live and work among the Highland Yao.
-Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are targeting the Highland Yao.
-Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Highland Yao through dreams and visions.
-Pray that the Lord will raise up long term workers to join the few who have already responded.
-Ask God to speed the completion of the Jesus film and other evangelistic materials into the Mian language.
-Ask the Holy Spirit to complete the work begun in the hearts of the Highland Yao believers through adequate discipleship.
-Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Highland Yao by the year 2000.
© Copyright 1997
Bethany World Prayer Center
This profile may be copied and distributed without obtaining permission
as long as it is not altered, bound, published
or used for profit purposes.
THE Iu-MIENH PEOPLE
Who are they and where have they come from?
The Iu-Mienh people are one of six ethnic groups that have for centuries been called "Yao" by the Chinese, Southeast Asians and others. Some have innocently adopted this term, which to the Iu-Mienh themselves means "barbarians." For this reason, the tribe strongly prefers the term "Iu-Mienh", which to them means "the people"-and all others are outsiders.
In China there are 2 to 3 million Yao. Of these an estimated 700,000 are Iu-Mienh. The name is also spelled Iuh Mienh or Yiu-Mienh and they most often shorten it to Mienh. In the unified script spelling of the language the "h" is written at the end of "Mienh" to denote the falling tone with which the word is pronounced. In English we usually write simply "Mien." In Vietnam "Yao" is written "Dao."
HISTORY
Iu-Mienh originated in China. Some records indicated these people were known as early as 1500 B.C. in central China. Others say that their existence became known about 500 B.C.
With the increasing dominance of the Chinese population, the Iu-Mienh were gradually forced into mountain areas. For various reasons, including a resistance to levies imposed by the Chinese government, a search for freedom and an escape from famine, a number of Iu-Mienh moved from the Shantung and central areas of China into Southeast Asia. The majority remain in the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces of south China.
One branch of the Mienh has legends of having traveled by sea on a difficult voyage after which they say they began their animistic spirit worship.
The Iu-Mienh migration from China was made in two different movements. The first group of Iu-Mienh migrated into northern Vietnam in the 1700's. These people are called "Man", another Chinese term for "barbarians." The migration of the Iu-Mienh into Thailand and Laos did not occur until the mid-nineteenth century.
As early as 1963, the Iu-Mienh in Namtha, a northernmost province of Laos and a center for United States' CIA mercenary forces, were engaged in CIA activities led by a warlord "Chaomai" and his brother "Chaola". They were gradually forced to abandon their villages as the Pathet Lao, the Lao communist force supported by North Vietnam, gained more and more territory. "The long-standing family cooperation with the Royal Lao, French and United States governments (the U.S. in particular) naturally means that they and their followers would be marked for execution in the Communist takeover" (Hartmann, John).
Escaping persecution and seeking freedom, most of the Iu-Mienh in Laos moved south and then west. They fled across the Mekong River into Thailand where they were confined in refugee camps in the northern provinces of Chiengrai and Nan. In those camps food was insufficient and life was difficult.
But many have since been resettled in various countries around the world. Today, there are about 25,000 Iu-Mienh people in the United States. Most of these are located in California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. In China, there are still 700,000 Iu-Mienh. Approximately 300,000 are in Vietnam. In Thailand, there are 40,000. There are still some left in the war torn country of Laos. These are numbered to be about 10,000. There are also Iu-Mienh people in other countries such as France, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark and possibly in Australia and Burma.
The Iu-Mienh are one of the newest tribes currently making a new life in the United States who survived through many disastrous war experiences. Life in America is as tough for many as it was in Laos when the Communists were taking over. Cultural shock was awaiting like a lion ready to devour these newcomers as they arrived. Due to the language barrier, many can not get a job and they do not have a piece of land to raise their own food. Many wish they had not come here to America.
For a Iu-Mienh to learn English is not as easy as it is for an American to learn a foreign language. The Iu-Mienh are not an industrialized people. The Iu-Mienh culture and language have been kept alive by oral tradition. Their written language has not been developed until recent decades. Thus, learning English is not just learning a language to them. It is like teaching a baby to speak: the whole process of learning a language (language acquisition) is involved. Therefore, if we want to succeed in bringing these people the message, it is important that we consider using the primary language as a vehicle.
CUSTOMS
Mienh women in Thailand and Laos wear black embroidered trousers, black jackets with red wool pom-poms around the neck and down the front, and black turbans. The dress of the women in China and Vietnam varies considerably from this. In western countries western dress is worn usually now except for special occasions.
For the most part they have lived in remote mountain villages of Asia growing rice, corn, vegetables and opium and raising pigs and chickens and using horses for hauling supplies.
Premarital sexual encounters have been normal. Monogamy is the norm but there are many cases of polygamy.
Traditions and history have commonly been passed on by means of antiphonal chanting of questions and response.
RELIGION
The great majority of the Mienh still practice a form of Taoism in which they worship and seek by involved rituals, incantations, and offerings to get on the good side of the spirits of their ancestors. In addition they feel bound to practice a form of polytheistic animism in which they endeavor to placate the spirits of the tiger, the knife, and numerous other "jungle" spirits. Magical curses are put on enemies.
Those who fled Laos as refugees have been most open to the Gospel. Christians now are estimated at 4,100 + in U.S., 1,200 in Thailand, and 1,600 in North Vietnam and a few elsewhere.
Prepared by C.W. Callaway Oct. 1997
Prayer Profile
The Highland Yao of Laos
The Highland Yao, also known as the Mien, are people of the mountains and people of learning. Unlike their neighbors, they are villagers with a strong tradition of literacy. Although they are found throughout the northern tier of Southeast Asia, they look to China as their ancestral homeland.
Centuries ago, while living in northern China, the Yao were constantly pushed southward by the expansion of the Han people. In the late 1800's, feuding warlords challenged one another for control of new lands, including those occupied by the Highland Yao. Villagers began crossing the border into Southeast Asia, particularly into Burma and Laos. The Highland Yao found that. northern Laos provided high mountains, virgin jungles, and a non-intrusive government—favorable conditions for establishing prosperous communities. Many believe that the Highland Yao are distantly related to the Hmong who also migrated from northern China and who are linguistically similar. The language of the Highland Yao is Mian.
What Are Their Lives Like
Houses in the Highland Yao villages are made of durable hardwood and have packed dirt floors. They are large enough for ceremonial gatherings and sturdy enough to withstand strong hurricane-force winds and torrential rains that sweep across the highlands of Laos. Villagers cultivate rice and corn, and gather wild jungle products such as resin and honey to trade with Lao merchants. Their principal cash crop, however, is opium. The "black tar" opium can be used as money when doing business with Chinese traders. Without health services, opium has been an important drug, but has also caused serious addictions.
Social status in the Highland Yao villages is determined by behavior, accomplishment, generosity with others, and scholarship in religious studies. The basic village household may consist of a man, his wife, their unmarried children, their married sons and daughters-in-law, their grandchildren, and other relatives. Because the extended family lives together, child rearing is a cross-generational affair, with grandparents giving the young parents "on the job training."
Each person has a well-defined role in Yao society. Women are generally responsible for the day-to-day essentials of life, while men are concerned with the long-term welfare of the family. Men are also responsible for relations between the living family, their dead ancestors, and the world of spirits. In the villages, men fell the jungle trees and burn the areas to be cultivated. The women plant, hoe, and harvest. Villages work together in building houses and clearing fields, and celebrate together at feasts.
Within each village community, there are a select few who gain prominence because of their literacy in Chinese. Young men from well-to-do families study and master Chinese characters in the expression of Yao concepts. They become experts in the writing of ritual texts and family genealogies.
Highland Yao dress reinforces their ethnic identity. Yao men wear distinctive earrings and specially embroidered tunics. Women wear elaborate costumes with bright red wool collars. Infants wear intricately embroidered caps, believed to protect them from harm from malevolent spirits.
What Are Their Belief?
The religion of the Highland Yao is far more than a component of their culture. It is a total belief system that explains all the natural events of life and provides a way to gain control over those events. The Yao are influenced by their ancestors, as well as by their animistic beliefs (the belief that the natural world around them is inhabited by spirits). Time and resources are spent to make sure that the ancestors remain content and the spirits are pacified. Rituals that reflect a blending of Taoist belief and animism are often conducted by well-trained priests.
What Are Their Needs?
As with most animistic cultures, the Highland Yao live in fear of displeasing the spirits of ancestors or nature. A desire to be free from fear and their emphasis on kindness and generosity within society would provide an opening for the Gospel. Prayer is the key to seeing them reached for Christ.
Prayer Points
-Take authority over the spiritual principalities that are keeping the Highland Yao bound.
-Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to live and work among the Highland Yao.
-Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are targeting the Highland Yao.
-Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Highland Yao through dreams and visions.
-Pray that the Lord will raise up long term workers to join the few who have already responded.
-Ask God to speed the completion of the Jesus film and other evangelistic materials into the Mian language.
-Ask the Holy Spirit to complete the work begun in the hearts of the Highland Yao believers through adequate discipleship.
-Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Highland Yao by the year 2000.
© Copyright 1997
Bethany World Prayer Center
This profile may be copied and distributed without obtaining permission
as long as it is not altered, bound, published
or used for profit purposes.
THE Iu-MIENH PEOPLE
Who are they and where have they come from?
The Iu-Mienh people are one of six ethnic groups that have for centuries been called "Yao" by the Chinese, Southeast Asians and others. Some have innocently adopted this term, which to the Iu-Mienh themselves means "barbarians." For this reason, the tribe strongly prefers the term "Iu-Mienh", which to them means "the people"-and all others are outsiders.
In China there are 2 to 3 million Yao. Of these an estimated 700,000 are Iu-Mienh. The name is also spelled Iuh Mienh or Yiu-Mienh and they most often shorten it to Mienh. In the unified script spelling of the language the "h" is written at the end of "Mienh" to denote the falling tone with which the word is pronounced. In English we usually write simply "Mien." In Vietnam "Yao" is written "Dao."
HISTORY
Iu-Mienh originated in China. Some records indicated these people were known as early as 1500 B.C. in central China. Others say that their existence became known about 500 B.C.
With the increasing dominance of the Chinese population, the Iu-Mienh were gradually forced into mountain areas. For various reasons, including a resistance to levies imposed by the Chinese government, a search for freedom and an escape from famine, a number of Iu-Mienh moved from the Shantung and central areas of China into Southeast Asia. The majority remain in the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces of south China.
One branch of the Mienh has legends of having traveled by sea on a difficult voyage after which they say they began their animistic spirit worship.
The Iu-Mienh migration from China was made in two different movements. The first group of Iu-Mienh migrated into northern Vietnam in the 1700's. These people are called "Man", another Chinese term for "barbarians." The migration of the Iu-Mienh into Thailand and Laos did not occur until the mid-nineteenth century.
As early as 1963, the Iu-Mienh in Namtha, a northernmost province of Laos and a center for United States' CIA mercenary forces, were engaged in CIA activities led by a warlord "Chaomai" and his brother "Chaola". They were gradually forced to abandon their villages as the Pathet Lao, the Lao communist force supported by North Vietnam, gained more and more territory. "The long-standing family cooperation with the Royal Lao, French and United States governments (the U.S. in particular) naturally means that they and their followers would be marked for execution in the Communist takeover" (Hartmann, John).
Escaping persecution and seeking freedom, most of the Iu-Mienh in Laos moved south and then west. They fled across the Mekong River into Thailand where they were confined in refugee camps in the northern provinces of Chiengrai and Nan. In those camps food was insufficient and life was difficult.
But many have since been resettled in various countries around the world. Today, there are about 25,000 Iu-Mienh people in the United States. Most of these are located in California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. In China, there are still 700,000 Iu-Mienh. Approximately 300,000 are in Vietnam. In Thailand, there are 40,000. There are still some left in the war torn country of Laos. These are numbered to be about 10,000. There are also Iu-Mienh people in other countries such as France, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark and possibly in Australia and Burma.
The Iu-Mienh are one of the newest tribes currently making a new life in the United States who survived through many disastrous war experiences. Life in America is as tough for many as it was in Laos when the Communists were taking over. Cultural shock was awaiting like a lion ready to devour these newcomers as they arrived. Due to the language barrier, many can not get a job and they do not have a piece of land to raise their own food. Many wish they had not come here to America.
For a Iu-Mienh to learn English is not as easy as it is for an American to learn a foreign language. The Iu-Mienh are not an industrialized people. The Iu-Mienh culture and language have been kept alive by oral tradition. Their written language has not been developed until recent decades. Thus, learning English is not just learning a language to them. It is like teaching a baby to speak: the whole process of learning a language (language acquisition) is involved. Therefore, if we want to succeed in bringing these people the message, it is important that we consider using the primary language as a vehicle.
CUSTOMS
Mienh women in Thailand and Laos wear black embroidered trousers, black jackets with red wool pom-poms around the neck and down the front, and black turbans. The dress of the women in China and Vietnam varies considerably from this. In western countries western dress is worn usually now except for special occasions.
For the most part they have lived in remote mountain villages of Asia growing rice, corn, vegetables and opium and raising pigs and chickens and using horses for hauling supplies.
Premarital sexual encounters have been normal. Monogamy is the norm but there are many cases of polygamy.
Traditions and history have commonly been passed on by means of antiphonal chanting of questions and response.
RELIGION
The great majority of the Mienh still practice a form of Taoism in which they worship and seek by involved rituals, incantations, and offerings to get on the good side of the spirits of their ancestors. In addition they feel bound to practice a form of polytheistic animism in which they endeavor to placate the spirits of the tiger, the knife, and numerous other "jungle" spirits. Magical curses are put on enemies.
Those who fled Laos as refugees have been most open to the Gospel. Christians now are estimated at 4,100 + in U.S., 1,200 in Thailand, and 1,600 in North Vietnam and a few elsewhere.
Prepared by C.W. Callaway Oct. 1997
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The 12 clans of the Iumien people
I found this symbol on the old mienh.net website a couple years ago. Someone said that it was created by Iumien students at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento for their club. I think it's cool with the Chinese characters and all. The image is pretty small and the resolution isn't very good. If anyone has a better image, please let me know and I'll post it, with their permission, of course. Basically this blog is about the Iumien people.
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