 Muang
Ancestors migrated from southwestern China
The Muang appear to have migrated from southwestern China at least 700 years ago. They represent one of the largest language blocks in the Tai ethno-linguistic family, which incorporates dozens of languages found in a broad swathe from western India to southern China and much of Southeast Asia.
"Spirit houses" mingle with Buddhist temples
The Muang practice Theravada Buddhism, but are basically animistic.
Virtually every village has a Buddhist temple and all young men are expected to become monks for at least a few weeks. Young women often will refuse to marry a man who has not been a monk.
Permeating the Muang world is the belief in spirits. Virtually every Muang home has a "spirit house" in the yard, where the spirits must be appeased daily with offerings of fruit, incense and occasionally gold. Other spirits abound in the forests and rivers.
 The Muang live in constant fear of offending the spirits and spend considerable time and money seeking to assuage them. Even the smallest Muang children wear special amulets around their necks and arms to ward off wrathful spirits. Sometimes the spirits require blood sacrifice such as a pig or chicken.
During some festivals, spirit mediums (persons) are possessed by the spirits and offer strange prophecies.
Approximately one percent of the Muang population is Christian.
Majority of population rural
Most of the 70 to 80 percent of the Muang who live in the countryside are rice farmers. Some deal in other cash crops, such as fruits, vegetables and opium.
 Most children follow in their parents' footsteps in agriculture, with some seasonal migration to the cities for service jobs such as taxi drivers, restaurant workers, janitors and factory positions.
The average annual income for a rural Muang is less than $1,500 in US dollars.
The picture is different for those Muang who live in the cities. They tend to be bilingual in the national language, which opens up better educational and vocational opportunities. Some urban Muang have risen to high positions in business, government and education.
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Population: |
+\- 6 million |
| Religion: |
Animistic combined with Theravada Buddhism |
| Language: |
Kammuang |
| Geographical location/s: |
Southeast Asia |
Profile: Prostitution and AIDS
Muang women are noted for their physical beauty. It is not unusual for farmers to sell their own daughters into prostitution for money. Often this money is used to buy things they see in the cities such as motorcycles, televisions and video machines.
As a result of this, AIDS is a growing crisis among the people. More than two percent of the population is already infected. An estimated 10 Muang die of AIDS every week, a figure which is expected to increase dramatically during the next five years.
Resource Note:
A flier on CBF missions among the Muang is available. Visit the CBF e-Store or call toll-free at (888) 801-4CBF (4223).
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