Mien
By Alejandro Cardiente
Filipino Adopt a Minister in Thailand
The Mien minority tribe is also known as "Yao." Considering their population in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and 
China, they had become one of the largest ethnic groups in Asia. This does not include the over 20,000 Mien living in the United States. Despite their unique heritage, the Mien people seem locked into their cultural
world in the isolated jungle where farming on the slopes is their main livelihood.
In the mountains of Northern Thailand, which is in the province of Chiangrai, Nan and Phayao, there are more than a hundred Mien villages. Many estimated that there are more or less 30,000 Mien people in Thailand. Mien cultures and beliefs are closely tied to that of the Chinese. They are written based from the original sacred Taoist script-texts that had been handed down from generation to generation, and written in Chinese.
Since there is also Mien tribe in Laos and Vietnam, it is not hard to believe the many stories of their migration from China. Many of my Mien friends have blood-relatives in Laos. But since their tales date back several centuries ago, tracing the most reliable stories and the significant years of their exodus from China to Laos, and from Laos to Thailand, is impossible for me to tell. In fact, there are still many old Mien people in Chiangrai and Nan provinces who would tell the stories of their migration. There are two possible theories in the evolution of their semi-Taoist scripture.
One, they 
probably carried it with them from China during their migration. Second, their ancestors probably recalled what they had learned for a long time in China and had put them into writing. This sacred written scripture has made their beliefs and practices stronger than those of any other hill tribe in Asia.
Beliefs and Practices
The Mien people strongly believe in the spirit world. Their "Ani-Taoist" (combination of Animism and Taoism) religion, worshiping their " zu zong mienv " (ancestors' spirits) combined with their Taoist belief, play an important role in the religious life of each Mien family. Since each Mien tribe has their own sacred written scripture adapted from Taoist religion (all written in Chinese), they have written guides for their rituals and ceremonies.
In an event like a house blessing ceremony, the "sai mienh" (spirit's priest) reads the "sai nzung sou" (the book used to perform the ceremony). To bless a house, the priest invites the " mienv zoux ziouv" (good spirit) to stay in the house, which the Mien people believe would help and protect them from illnesses and "mienv morh" (tragedies inflected by the bad spirits). The owner of the house will then pay the "sai zinh" (the service fee) to the ritual priest who officiated it.
The "mienv baaih" (spirit's altar), which can be seen easily from the main door, is found in every house. The spirit's altar signifies that the "mienv" (the spirits), which is believed to pass through the main door, are welcome to come in and not have a hard time going into the altar. The "mienv kuv" (list of names of their deceased ancestors) is placed on the altar. Some of the well-off Mien family usually put pictures instead of the
list of names.
When someone dies, the "sai mienh" (ritual priest) performs the "zoux caeqv" (ceremony) to separate the person's body from sin, so that a person will have a peaceful rest. Then, using the water to do the ceremonial washing, the priest performs the "zoux sin" (taking away of the evil spirit from the person's dead body). Then he initiates the "doh dangh caeqv jaiv" (ceremony that takes away the evil spirit from the soul of the dead person). Since they believe in the " hoz seix" (reincarnation), the priest performs the " zoux sin-seix" to really make sure that the dead person will have a happy life in the spirit world and in the new generations to come.
The use of spirit's money is also one of the unique and unusual beliefs of the Mien hill tribe. The spirit's monies are the dirty, white blank bond paper that they cut into pieces, a little bigger than the real monetary system that they normally use. They make the paper monies manually using a metal stamp and a wooden stamp with a carved animal design.
Aside from the animal they slaughter for sacrifices, these monies also, as I had personally observed, are used to pay for their protection, their health (because the family will make spirit's money when someone in the family gets sick), and for their security in the hereafter. I have observed them making a lot of spirit's money, at least three big sacks. When someone dies, a neighbor goes to the house of the bereaved to donate a plastic bag of rice and a bunch of paper for the spirit's money. The spirit's monies are-so the dead could have a good life in the spirit world, while the rice is to feed the dead person's spirit. During the funeral ceremonies, the relatives and close friends of the deceased form a big circle close to the coffin. Then they perform a burning ceremony using the spirit's monies and the rice. This ritual is done inside the house. The spirit's priest scatters the rice into the fire so that the dead person has something to eat in the spirit world.
Using a cymbal, drum and a bell, the "lorh nzoz nyei mienh" (musicians) play while the priest chants and dances to invite the ancestors' spirits and the spirit of the dead person. The playing of music, chanting and dancing stop during mealtime, and continue on to last for four to five days. Every night the bereaved family offers a chicken, wine, and rice (which they wrap in a white cloth) on the top of the coffin.
Another part of the night spirit's ceremony is when the family cooks sticky rice and place the kettle with the cooked rice under the spirit's altar. A table is usually placed beside the coffin. Placing the glasses, wine and the sticky rice on the table, the spirit's priest, the members of the family and close friends call their ancestors' spirits and the spirit of the dead person. At the table, they eat and drink wine, laughing and talking merrily with the spirits.
The Mien also has their " mangc maengc fin saeng" (fortuneteller). This medium uses the " mangc maengc sou" (astrological book) that could tell the fortune of an individual. This book is written in Chinese and contains the date, month and year.
Another thing that is common to the Mien is the "tong sou" (a unique astrological calendar), which contains the date, month and year and which determines whether two lovers are compatible. Mien parents use this calendar to tell whether their children are well-matched for future relationships. And Mien marriages largely depend on it.
Unlike other conservative hill tribes, as long as the girl's family consents, a Mien girl can invite her boyfriend to stay with her overnight. In fact, having a child before marriage is not a big deal in the Mien culture. In the many Mien wedding ceremonies I have attended, the whole ceremony and reception last for many days and cost a great deal of money. These are separate from the costly dowry, which the groom's parents must pay to the bride's parents.
Like other tribes, Mien women are bound to do the household duties such as: cooking, washing and cleaning, which their husbands have very little contribution. In fact, a Mien wife has many heavy duties compared to the husband. Though they work equally in the farm, the wife is left alone to do all the
cooking and household chores aside from carrying a heavy basket full of firewood, vegetables and farming tools, which she carries on her back.
Traditional Clothes
The Mien men's "lui liez" (men's traditional suit) is usually black. Both jacket and pants are loose-fitting, suggesting their Chinese 
origin. At the present time, the Mein children commonly wear the "mouc fang" (Mien boy's traditional hat) with its colorful stripes.
Mien women have their distinguishable and loose-fitting outfits. In fact, part of the "lui houx" (traditional garment) has designated names on it, which is almost impossible for me to memorize. However, the most beautiful part of their dress is the red garland-like attachment in the front part.
Their unique traditional dress, especially the lower part, which has heavy sewing and intricate designs, takes them at least a year to finish. This is a refreshing hobby for most Mien women. Their women also wear the "muoc zou" (traditional black turban) with tiny colorful and unique designs.
Mien Language and System of Writing
The " mienh waac" (Mien dialect) is tonal and closely similar to the Mandarin Chinese. Mien dialect has 5 tones, namely: the middle tones, low tones, rising tones, falling tones, and rising-falling tones. The elderly Mien are usually fluent in Chinese and are able to write it legibly. To be literate in Chinese is a qualification of their "sai mienh" (spirit's priest) since he must be able to chant the semi-Taoist sacred scripts, which are all written in Chinese.
Today in Thailand, it's a big challenge for the "sai mienh" to find his successor since the new generation Mien has a very slim chance to learn Chinese. In fact, the present-day adult Mien does not even show much appreciation and interest for their Mien dialect.
Though old Mien people are poor in the Thai language and just use the Mien dialect and Chinese, Mien teenagers started to adopt Thai language not only because of the influence of the Thai educational system, but also because of the tribal discrimination in the lowland-Thai society, on their hopes to avail equal job opportunities like that of the "Thais." In fact, some of them change their names to Thai names to make themselves more saleable.
In Nan and Chiangrai provinces, Mien dialect is written in Thai script. But the Mien people in the West started to use the newly developed Romanized script to help them learn and appreciate their language better.
Livelihood, Food and Etiquette
The Mien people are usually "zuangx lingh mienh" (farmers). They plant corn and rice (usually rice that grows in the dry land) on the
mountain slopes. Small vegetable gardens that supply their daily needs can be seen in their fields. During planting season, after preparing the land, the owner would request the ritual expert to perform a ritual in his field to pay the "doh deic mienv" (landlord spirit) and the "ndeic mienv" (spirit that will take care of the field and plants). This is believed to help yield good harvest. This includes the offering of food to the spirits and the lighting of Chinese candle-like incense sticks of which the smoke is believed to communicate with the spirit world. This is also done in almost every ceremony.Raising pigs and chickens are common to almost every family in the Mien villages. This saves them money for having food ready for consumption and for use in rituals and ceremonies. The killing of a pig or chicken is usually part of their ritual service.
In Nan and Chiangrai, the Mien women gather edible plants and mushrooms from the jungle and swamps. The Mien men on the other hand, hunt wild birds, wild cats, snakes, rats and frogs for food. They commonly use chopsticks that are usually made of bamboo aside from spoons and forks. When eating, they are using small bowls instead of big plates. To them, it's easier to hold a bowl and bring it close to the mouth. This practice reflects their Chinese origin.
Our work with the Mien People
God is good that the work here is progressing. I'm so inspired going home every night, though going back and forth from Thai school for 2 rough hours is a little bit tiresome. Worship becomes a nightly routine and our fellowship is becoming warmer. I'm so happy that God helped me to reach my goal this month. I allow Bro.Jiuon (a spirit's worshipper not yet baptized) to pray during worship and during mealtime. His confidence to pray is improving. Hearing Jesus from his lips is very refreshing and touching. I praise God for giving me this opportunity to work here with these people.
Though this time I have to struggle in learning the Thai and Mien languages, but I do believe that the plain word of God and the "lyrics theology" of the gospel songs every night had become the Holy Spirit's channel in helping the Mien people. Please pray for Jioun and his wife. I'm so excited to have them being baptized soon. I'm asking you to please send more ministers to help us here. These people are so hungry for the WORD. My heart cries to God everyday, for I truly wish many more could learn about Jesus and His plan of salvation. The Miens are very wonderful people and many are dying without knowing our Savior.
To care for their families, finding jobs in the city is their priority. They understand the Sabbath, but their basic needs are met first. It pains my heart to see them working on the Sabbath.
I visited a restaurant where one of our church members is working. I can't hold my tears, for I love our members and I want them to be in heaven. So I ask God continually to help me financially so I could help them. I shared part of my salary and bought a few chickens to start a poultry for a family, so they could have a means to make a living. Please pray for the livelihood program that I have introduced to them.