Han Chinese, Mandarin in China, Macau

Introduction / History

Macau is a couple of islands off the east coast of China. It has a long history with Portugal dating back to the 1500s when it first became a trading port. It was leased to Portugal in 1557 and officially became a colony in 1887. It has been the home of Han Chinese people forever; the people are no different ethnically than those on the mainland. Macau remained separate from the PRC until 1999 when it was reunited.

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are often comparisons between Hong Kong and Macau because both became part of the PRC around the same time as part of the "one country, two systems" agreement. In recent years there has been unrest in Hong Kong, where the people feel the PRC government has not held up to their end of the deal. In Macau, there seems to be a consensus that they want to be part of the PRC according to a 2019 article in BBC News.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Diaspora Han Chinese have generally maintained their traditional Chinese religion, which is characterized by a blending of philosophies. It has added elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism over the course of time. Their beliefs are centered around the concept of maintaining harmony.
The Han Chinese consult horoscopes in an attempt to determine what course of action will promote harmony and bring good luck. They also believe in a pantheon of spirits who inhabit the earth. The spirits of their ancestors supposedly roam the earth, and if treated properly, are benign and bring good luck. They believe that ghosts exist as the spirits of people who are angry at the circumstances of their death; these spirits are said to be malicious and capricious. Deities are supposedly the souls of people who lived especially virtuous lives. They believe these deities have spiritual powers that can be used to benefit those who worship them.
Although the Han Chinese still claim adherence to these beliefs, they seem to have little effect on their everyday lives. In fact, many of them are non-religious in practice.
There are Christian believers among the Mandarin speakers in Macau, and this has been the case since the days of Roman Catholic missionaries.

What Are Their Needs?

Macau has a strong economy, but some of that is dependent upon the gambling industry. They need their economy to be tied in with something productive.

Prayer Points

Pray for Mandarin speaking believers to go to these people and work with them to begin a movement to Christ in Macau.
Pray for Mandarin speakers in Macau to be given the gift of faith in the power and goodness of Jesus Christ so they will put aside their traditional religious practices and depend on Him.
Pray for the Lord to meet all their physical and spiritual needs.

Text Source:   Joshua Project