Dong, Northern March 8 ➤

History: The Dong were not known by that name until this HUNAN century. In the past they were •Hongjiang part of the ancient Yue race, • •Chengbu Kaili• which dominated southern • •Duyun Rongjiang• •Sanjiang . The Dong have many

Scale GUANGXI ancient myths and legends 0 KM 160 about the origin of the world.4 Population in China: 907,560 (1990) 1,170,700 (2000) Customs: One of the visually 1,510,200 (2010) striking aspects of a Dong Location: community is the Drum Tower. Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei For centuries, the Dong have Religion: Polytheism Christians: 600 used the tower as the rallying point of the community: a place Overview of the where the village gathers for an emergency, celebrates a Northern Dong wedding, and where young Dong Countries: China couples sing love songs to each Pronunciation: “Dong” other. One source states that Other Names: Kam, Tung, Tungchia, Tungjen, Gam, Tong, there are more than 30 distinct Tongkia Dong dialect groups in China, Population Source: and that marriage is rare 907,560 (1990 census); between members of the various Out of a total Dong population of 5 2,514,014 (1990 census) groups. Location: SE Guizhou: Tianzhu, Sansui, Religion: The Dong believe in Jianhe, and Jinping counties; many gods. They regard certain W Hunan: Xinhuang and mountains, trees, stones, and

Jingzhou counties; Paul Hattaway SW Hubei: Enshi County other nonhuman objects as Status: Location: More than one million speakers sacred. This is reflected in the Dong Officially included under Dong of the Northern Dong language live in the custom of planting a fir tree for each Language: Daic, Kam-Sui area of southern China where the provinces newborn baby. A form of black magic, called Literacy: 55% of Guizhou and Hunan meet.1 In addition, a Tu, is practiced by some Dong in remote Dialects: 3 small number live far to the north in Enshi areas. The Kitchen god is worshiped during Religion: Polytheism, Animism, County in southwestern Hubei. In 1990 the the Spring and Fall festivals. A growing Ancestor Worship Northern Dong amounted to 36% of the number of Dong youth are nonreligious. Christians: 600 total Dong population of 2.54 million. Scripture: None Christianity: Although they are considered Jesus film: None Identity: Although the Northern and relatively open to the gospel, the Dong Gospel Recordings: None Southern Dong speak different languages, remain one of the most neglected minority Christian Broadcasting: None they have been combined to form the groups in China. Today there are an ROPAL code: DOC00 official Dong nationality in China. The two estimated 600 Northern Dong Christians,6 groups are also culturally different. The a meager number considering their large Status of Evangelization Northern Dong have been assimilated into population of more than one million. Most 88% Chinese culture much more than their Dong have never heard the gospel. Both southern counterparts. The Dong call Protestant and Catholic missionaries were themselves Kam. active among the Dong prior to the introduction of Communism in 1949. 11% 1% Language: The two Dong languages share Several churches were built, but the gospel 71% cognate vocabulary.2 Generally more never took a firm hold among the Dong. A B C speakers of Northern Dong are bilingual in Because the Dong do not have a written A = Have never heard the gospel Chinese than the Southern Dong. Many script, no Scriptures have been translated B = Were evangelized but did not become Christians Northern Dong now speak exclusively into their language. Efforts are underway to C = Are adherents to any form of Chinese. There are nine tones produce a Roman script for them. Many Christianity distinguishable in Northern Dong — the Northern Dong could now be reached by most found in any Tai-related language Chinese-language media. throughout the world.3

124 DONG, NORTHERN