Centuries ago the Tai lived north of Yangtzekiang in China. Relentless pressure by the Chinese gradually forced them southward. They conquered many peoples and cultures as they sought a new homeland, but by the tenth century they had settled in Central Thailand. A bloodless revolution in 1932, led by Westernized intellectuals, instituted a democratic constitutional monarchy. However, the country has suffered numerous governmental upheavals since then. Today, Buddhism is the central and unifying force in Tai society and even maintains social control. The Central Tai speak Thai, the official language of the country.

What Are Their Lives Like?
The Central Tai are unusually polite, respectful, and hospitable people. Their children are brought up to respect those of a higher rank, with additional emphasis on independence and self-reliance. The Central Tai seldom use physical punishment to discipline children.

Age is highly respected in Central Tai society. Type of occupation, wealth, and place and type of residence follow age in terms of respect and rank. Rural farmers rank below artisans, merchants, and city government officials; clergy form a separate group. Families are the core of Tai society. In rural areas, the immediate family usually lives, eats, and farms together. A young married couple may live with the bride's family until they can establish their own home.

The Central Tai are distinguished by a near absence of labor division by sex. Both men and women plow, till, fish, cook, tend babies, clean house, and wash clothes. Rice is the major economic crop, providing both a food staple and a cash crop.

The wealthiest Tai live in wood-framed homes that are raised off the ground and have plank floors, hard wood or mahogany panels, and tile roofs. The poorest villagers live in bamboo homes with thatched roofs and dirt floors. There are a wide variety of homes in the cities: multi-level cement houses, houses that are attached to or above shops, townhouses, apartment complexes, or wooden houses. The temple and school are prominent features in the villages. Water taxis transport people and cargo on polluted waterways that connect houses and other buildings.

What Are Their Beliefs?
Theravada Buddhism was introduced in Thailand in 329 B.C. Almost all of the Tai are devout followers of Buddha ("the enlightened one") and seek to eliminate suffering and improve their future by gaining merit in pursuit of perfect peace, or nirvana. They believe that merit can be acquired through feeding monks, donating to temples, and attending worship services.

Traditionally, young men enter a Buddhist monastery for three months to study Buddhism. The Tai also attempt to incorporate their Buddhist beliefs with folk animism, a practice in which they seek help through the worship of spirits and objects.

What Are Their Needs?
Thailand has serious public health problems. Hepatitis is prevalent and malaria is a problem in rural areas. HIV infections are epidemic in the cities.

Prostitution is a pressing social problem. Approximately 200,000 to 500,000 prostitutes, usually from poor, rural areas, are forced to sell their bodies to help their families survive. Education and employment opportunities for women are limited, and many women and children lack adequate health care.

Although a number of missions agencies are working among the Central Tai, more help is needed. The Bible, the Jesus film, and Christian broadcasts are all available in the Tai language. However, less than 1% are Christian.

• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Pray that God will grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are currently targeting the Central Tai.
• Ask God to send Christian teachers and medical teams to work among the Central Tai.
• Ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio to the Central Tai.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Central Tai towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
• Take authority over the principalities and powers that are keeping the Central Tai bound.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Central Tai by the year 2000.

See also the following Tai Groups:
The Northern Tai of Thailand; The Northeastern Tai of Thailand; The Southern Tai of Thailand; and
The Thai of Laos.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Central Tai
• Country: Thailand
• Their language: Tai
• Population: (1990) 19,241,700
  (1995) 20,352,300
  (2000) 21,431,900
• Largest religion: Buddhist 98%
  Muslim (Shafiite) 1%
  Hindu <1%
  
• Christians: <1%
• Church members: 113,973
• Scriptures in their own language: Bible
• Jesus Film in their own language: Available
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: Available
• Mission agencies working among this people: 14
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 12,732,400 (63%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 1,131,600 (6%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 11,600,800 (57%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 7,619,900 (37%)

• Country: Thailand
• Population: (1990) 55,582,700
  (1995) 58,790,700
  (2000) 61,909,300
• Major peoples in size order: Central Tai 34.65%
  Northeastern Tai 26.4%
  Northern Tai 10.5%
  Han Chinese 8.2%
  Southern Tai 7.8%
• Major religions: Buddhist 91.6%
  Muslim 4%
  Chinese folk-religionist 1.4%
• Number of denominations: 40