Han Chinese, Min Dong April 13

Location: More than eight had a sense of love, believers in Fugiu [now million in kinship, and filial feeling for City]. “They had JIANGXI Province speak the Shang Di, the Creator God. books… found to be the HUNAN Min Dong — or Eastern Min Each year the emperor gave words of the Psalter.… And • FUJIAN — language. It is spoken by the following recitation as thus they had in a certain • people living in 19 cities he sacrificed at the Temple temple of theirs three HONG KONG and counties of Fujian, of Heaven: “You hear us and figures painted, who had Scale 0 KM 400 ranging from the town of regard us as a Father. I, been three apostles of the Fu’an in northeastern Fujian your child, dull and seventy who had gone Population in : 7,526,000 (1987) to the large city of Fuzhou unenlightened, am unable to preaching throughout the 8,797,900 (2000) on the coast. Min Dong show forth my dutiful world, and they said that 9,941,600 (2010) speakers are also scattered feeling. Your sovereign those had taught their Location: Fujian throughout . goodness is infinite. As a ancestors in that religion Religion: No Religion Christians: 400,000 potter, You have made all long ago, and that that faith Identity: The Min Dong are living things. Your sovereign had already been preserved Overview of the part of the Min group of goodness is infinite. Great among them for seven Min Dong languages which are distinct and small are sheltered (by hundred years, but for a from Mandarin and other your love). With great long time they had been Countries: China, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Chinese varieties. kindness You did bear with without teaching and so us, and not withstanding our were ignorant of the chief 3 Pronunciation: “Min-Dong” Language: The different Min demerits, do grant us life things.” Dr. Nathan Site, an 2 Other Names: vernaculars “seem to and prosperity.” American Methodist, arrived Min Dong, Eastern Min incorporate remnants of in Fujian in 1866. He was Population Source: Sinitic offshoots that Christianity: Generally the first missionary to Fujian 7,526,000 (1987 LAC); Out of a total Han population of predate the Sui-Tang era [AD speaking, the Min Dong in the modern Protestant 1,042,482,187 (1990 census); 589]. They may represent have proven more receptive era. Today there are at least 20,000 in Indonesia (1982); variations as old as the Han to Christianity than Chinese 400,000 Min Dong 15,000 in Singapore (1985); 6,000 in Brunei (1979); Dynasty itself — language in other parts of the believers, including more Also in Thailand and Malaysia forms set in place… during country. In the thirteenth than 100,000 in Fuqing 1 4 Location: NE Fujian: From Fu’an the Jin [AD 265–420].” century Marco Polo came alone. to Fuzhou City across a large body of Status: Officially included under Han Chinese History: The Southern and Language: Chinese, Min Dong Northern Dynasties Dialects (3): (420–589): China was Houguan, Funing, Manhua reeling under the burden of Religion: No Religion, Buddhism, war and had divided into two Daoism, Christianity ruling kingdoms. Both the Christians: 400,000 southern and northern Scripture: Bible 1884; New kingdoms at this time were Testament 1856; Portions 1852 actually ruled by several Jesus film: None different dynasties. In the Gospel Recordings: Foochow Colloquial Chinese #00113 fifth century the Tuoba tribe Christian Broadcasting: None defeated all its opposition in ROPAL code: CDO00 the northern kingdom. New rulers solidified authority by introducing a land reform Status of Evangelization movement. Buddhism, 60% introduced from India, flourished during this period. 35% Customs: Many Min Dong Chinese living along the 5% coast are fishermen, earning their income from A B C the bounty of the Taiwan A = Have never heard the gospel Strait. B = Were evangelized but did not become Christians C = Are adherents to any form of Religion: In the ancient past Christianity the Chinese appear to have Paul Hattaway

HAN CHINESE, MIN DONG 177