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Tai-Kadai

The Tai-Kadai are Buddhist, but they are also heavily influenced by animism. They believe in “guardian spirits” and “locality spirits,” which are identified with different levels of society.

AFM has ministered to the Tai-Kadai people since July 2001.

About the People

At one time, the Tai-Kadai* people had their own kingdom. During the 19th century, they were captured by a neighboring country, and about half their population was relocated. In the 20th century, their land became some of the most heavily bombed real estate on the planet.

Today the Tai-Kadai number about 111,000 in Southeast Asia.

The Tai-Kadai are Buddhist, but they are also heavily influenced by animism. They believe in “guardian spirits” and “locality spirits,” which are identified with different levels of society. They believe that one must please these spirits to avoid curses and receive blessings.

The Tai-Kadai work as farmers in higher elevations and use terraces. Some also use slash and burn techniques. The rice they grow is of the wet rice variety. Along roads, they are also blacksmiths, merchants, businessmen, skilled workers and civil servants. Wealthier Tai-Kadai live in sturdy, teak or mahogany-paneled houses raised off the ground and have a plank floor and tile roof. Less wealthy Tai-Kadai live in low-pitched, bamboo-framed houses with thatched roofs and earthen floors. The basic social unit is the family. While they are patriarchal, there is almost no division of labor by sex. They are hardworking and habitually save things for future use.

The Tai-Kadai people are also renowned for silk weaving. They are responsible for inspiring their captors (the Queen of Thailand) with a renewed interest in traditional silk weaving.

Social life includes “merit-making” ceremonies, ordinations of monks, marriages and housewarmings. The ideal family size is to have five children: a daughter first (to help mother), then three boys to work and be monks, then another girl. It is a great honor for the eldest to become a monk, which is believed to better the family’s positions.

The Tai-Kadai currently do not have any portion of the Bible translated into their language.

Asian food is very diverse. However, curries are very important to Southeast Asian cuisines. Rice is a staple starch to people in this area, but they also eat various leavened and unleavened bread and egg noodles. Garlic, ginger and chili peppers are common spices. Seafood and other meats are a big part of their diet as well.

About the Project

Adventist Frontier Missions has several projects in Southeast Asia. This part of the world is as diverse in people as it is in the landscape. This region has seen many wars, not only in this century but in centuries past.

AFM is actively working to reach the unreached people groups in this area. One of the primary strongholds of Buddhism today, Southeast Asia is truly a mission frontier.

Due to the sensitive nature of this project and the fact that the country in which we are operating is unfriendly toward evangelism, most of the information we share is general. If you are interested in serving as a missionary with the Tai-Kadai, please contact our recruiter who will give you more specific information.

*pseudonym

Sources

People-Group Facts

  • Population: 111,000
  • Language: 8 distinct languages
  • Trade language: Undisclosed
  • Religion: Buddhism

    Serving this Project

    • Sarah Newman

      Student Missionary for 2021-2022

    • Chrystal Johnson

      Student Missionary for 2021-2022

    • Abigail Clement

      AFM Short-Term Missionary for 2021-2022

    • Mallory Noble

      Student missionary for 2020-2021.

    • Wesley Judson

      Student Missionary for 2021-2022

    • Jake & Stacy-Lee Rhodes

      AFM-SAT Team Missionaries for 2019

    • Francisco Alves

      Short-Term Missionary for 2018

    • Sara Ferguson

      Career Missionary since 2018

    • May Richardson

      Student missionary from 2016-2017.

    • Joseph & Joelle Thea

      Career Missionaries since 2007

    • Kristi Smith

      Student Missionary for 2016

    • Daniel Palmer

      Student missionary from 2016-2017.

    • Elizabeth Trust

      Student Missionary from 2012-2014.

    • Andy & Mary Murphy

      Missionaries since 2012.

    • Kaleb & Zoe Lieben

      Career Missionaries since 2004.

    Project Update

    Entered area in 2002.

    • Churches planted — 1

    2022 Update

    • Churches — 1
    • Companies/Groups — 2
    • Members — 75

    Previously served here

    • Carlos Gomes

      AFM-Brazil Short-term missionary for 2019.

    • Elaine Steele

      Student Missionary for 2019-2022

    • Abigail Thompson

      Student Missionary for 2019-2021

    • Darci Steffen

      Student Missionary for 2019-2020

    • Francisco Alves

      Short-Term Missionary for 2018

    • Mariann Youngblood

      AFM-SAT Short-Term Missionary for 2018

    • Noah Halloran

      AFM-SAT Short-Term Missionary for 2018

    • Sierra Jensen

      Student missionary from 2018-2020.

    • Melanie Verde

      Student missionary from 2018-2019.

    • Maria Gonzalez

      Student Missionary for 2018-2019

    • Esther Fisher

      Student missionary from 2018-2019.

    • Sophia Frankston

      Student Missionary for 2018-2019

    • Julie Jones

      Student Missionary for 2019

    • Jason Whitaker

      Student Missionary for 2018-2019

    • Marissa LeBlanc

      Student missionary from 2017-2018.

    • Cera Lee Hansen

      Student missionary from 2017-2018.

    • Annah Green

      Student Missionary for 2017-2018

    • Anna Carmichael

      Student missionary from 2017-2018.

    • Katherine Jiao

      AFM-SAT Short-Term Missionary for 2017

    • Ezekial Johnson

      Short-Term Missionary for 2018

    • May Richardson

      Student missionary from 2016-2017.

    • Esther Khan

      Short-Term Missionary from 2018

    • Grace Leander

      Student missionary from 2017.

    • Kristi Smith

      Student Missionary for 2016

    • Tessa Brown

      AFM-SAT Short-Term Missionary for 2016

    • Alena Foster

      AFM-SAT Short-Term Missionary for 2016

    • Amy Mitchell

      AFM-SAT Short-Term Missionary for 2016

    • Daniel Palmer

      Student missionary from 2016-2017.

    • Danielle Jung

      Student missionary from 2015-2016.

    • Michael Parker

      Student missionary for 2014-2015.

    • Laurence Abundante

      AFM-SAT missionary since 2014

    • Michelle Lee

      Short-term missionary from 2014-2015.

    • Cora Carlson

      Student Missionary from 2013-2014

    • Vera Dye

      Student Missionary for 2013-2014

    • Ella Holloway

      Student Missionary for 2013-2014

    • Alice Nobel

      Short-term Missionary from 2013-2015

    • Audrey Grace

      Student Missionary for 2013-2015

    • Traci Derrick

      Student Missionary from 2012-2013.

    • Elizabeth Trust

      Student Missionary from 2012-2014.

    • Leanne Cornell

      Student Missionary from 2012-2015.

    • Josie Collins

      Student Missionary from 2012-2013.

    • Anna Pantke

      Student Missionary from 2011-2013.

    • Bryce & Abigail Adams

      Career Missionaries from 2002-2012.

    • Emma Forrester

      Student Missionary from 2011-2012.

    • Adara Hadriel

      Short-term Missionary since 2010.

    • Gayle E. Hopkins

      Student Missionary from 2010-2012.

    • Joseph & Elizabeth Inara

      Career Missionaries since 2006.

    • Sarah Lewis

      Student Missionary from 2011-2012.

    • Sarah Rayne

      Student Missionary from 2010-2013.

    • Samantha Rozema

      Student Missionary from 2011-2015.

    • Moriah Smith

      Student Missionary from 2011-2013.