The Bua Hmong are a separate ethnic group, with a common identity, within the Miao nationality. The Bua Hmong in Jinping and Vietnam call themselves Hmong Dlo or Bua Hmong, meaning "black Hmong." In Weixin the autonym used is Hmong Si. It is important to note that this group is not related to the large Hmu group in Guizhou, who were also called Black Miao by missionaries in the past. Linguist Michael Johnson notes, "In the Weixin- Xuyong area the Hmong Si are ethnically closely tied with the Hmong Leng, another Northern Hua dialect."
The Bua Hmong now living in southern Yunnan and Vietnam arrived in the region about 200 years ago. In contrast, the Bua Hmong in the northeastern Yunnan- Sichuan area first arrived there in 1573. After several generations of separation from their homeland, the Bua Hmong developed their own identity. Today most of the various Miao subgroups in China do not acknowledge kinship with each other, even if they speak the same language.
The Bua Hmong people live in China, Vietnam, and Laos.
Bua Hmong women's clothing features a black shirt, similar to the Hmong Leng, with embroidery on the cuffs. "The skirt is also dark.... with oblique squares of cloth sewn to it. Women often use a small waist apron as a head covering."
The majority of Bua Hmong are animists. In recent years the Bua Hmong in Jinping may have benefited from the Christian "radio revival" among the neighboring Hmong Daw, who speak a similar language. Of the three countries they live in they are only unreached in Laos, a country where the gospel has not made much of the way of inroads with the majority people.
The Bua Hmong people need the chance to allow Jesus to fulfil their lives.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Bua Hmong people in Laos teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Bua Hmong families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for Bua Hmong families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.
Pray for teams of believers to do sustained, focused prayer for the Lord to open the hearts of Bua Hmong family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.
Scripture Prayers for the Hmong Bua in Laos.
| Profile Source: Keith Carey |
