Identity The Geman Deng have not been included as part of any nationality by the Chinese authorities. Instead, they were included in a list of Undetermined Minorities which contained 881,838 people at the time of the 1990 census. Neighboring groups may call the Geman Deng Ahman.
History Chinese state television has produced a documentary on the Deng, who claim to have lived in their corner of Tibet since the beginning of time. The Deng's recent history has been one of oppression by the Tibetans. Formerly, the Deng were not even allowed to leave their area without permission from the Tibetan lamas.
Customs Deng people with the same name or blood ties live and work together in their villages. Most of the work is done by the Deng women. The women have a striking appearance, including a "silver hair band with engraved flowers over thick hair worn loosely on front of the top of their head. They are fond of big cylindershaped earrings with whorl patterns. Their clothes are richly decorated with agate, coral and jade ornaments as well as elaborate boxes of silver or gold in which they keep a copy of the Buddhist scripture. If a woman wears long strips of silver coins on the front of her blouse, she is from a wealthy family and has higher status than other women in the family."
Religion The Deng fear a variety of ghosts and demons. They believe they are able to temporarily calm the anger of these spirits and so, at appointed times, offer sacrifices of chickens and animals. This killing of valuable livestock has resulted in the Deng being trapped in dire poverty. Deng families often go into heavy debt to pay for the services of a shaman.
Christianity This group is one of the most difficult peoples in all of China to reach with the gospel. Their communities are only accessible by boat or on foot. A handful of Geman Deng in Myanmar have been evangelized by the strong Rawang church, but so far there are very few or no among them. Most Geman Deng in Tibet are without a witness. There are reports a few Gemang Deng in China have become followers of Jesus Christ.
Approximately 11,000 speakers of Geman Deng live on the tablelands on both sides of the lower reaches of the Zayu River within Zayu County, in southeastern Tibet. Plenty of rainfall and natural resources provide ideal conditions for their communities. The beautiful Zayu Valley, south of Mount Demula on the Hengduan Range, lies a mere 800 to 1,000 meters (2,600-3,280 ft.) above sea level. "There are vast expanses of woods on the slopes and in the valley itself bananas, water melons and apples grow in profusion together with rice." (Source: Operation China, 2000)
Register your ministry activity among this people group. Contact the Adopt-A-People Clearinghouse to learn about others that might be focused on this people group.
JP Unreached of Day
Português
[1] 
