Yunnan Shui in China

The Yunnan Shui have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Yunnan Shui have been officially included as part of the Shui nationality. However, Chinese linguists Wei Ch'ing-wen and Li Fang- Gui both state that the Shui in Yunnan speak a language mutually unintelligible with the Shui in Guizhou Province. For this reason, the Yunnan Shui are profiled separately and are considered a "mission-significant" people group. It is possible that this group has not always identified themselves as Shui. The government has included several small language groups who are more closely related to the Shui, such as the Mo and Rao, in the official Bouyei nationality in Guizhou. The government's classifications are often based on cultural similarities and not on any proven historical, linguistic, or ethnic kinship.

The Shui in Yunnan speak a language from the Kam-Sui (Dong-Shui) branch of the Daic linguistic family. Most Yunnan Shui are adequately bilingual in Chinese. The Shui in Yunnan do not use the rudimentary Shui script known to many Shui village leaders in Guizhou. The Yunnan Shui pass down stories and fables which "praise the diligence, bravery, wisdom and love of the Shui ethnic group and satirize the stupidity of the feudal rulers."

The Shui in Yunnan are a diaspora group who migrated to their present location at least 250 years ago. Today they live several hundred kilometers (200-250 mi.) west of the main body of Shui in central Guizhou. During their lengthy separation the Yunnan Shui have developed their own customs.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Yunnan Shui have a festive dance called the Copper Drum Dance. It is performed during special occasions such as the Duan Festival, celebrated each September after the harvest has been gathered. Traditional musical instruments include gongs, lusheng, huqin, and suona horns.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Shui in Yunnan are animists. Ancestor worship does not appear to take such a prominent place among the Yunnan Shui as it does among the Guizhou Shui.

The Shui in Yunnan are an unreached people group without a single known Christian among them. Few have ever been exposed to the gospel message since they live in one of the most spiritually neglected areas of Yunnan Province. Because they speak their own language, the Yunnan Shui will not be able to understand the Shui gospel recordings or JESUS Film presently being considered for translation. The Chinese language may be the best medium for evangelizing the Yunnan Shui. Most now read and write Chinese, and all but the elderly can speak the Southwestern dialect of Mandarin.


What Are Their Needs?

The Yunnan Shui people need to accept the warm embrace of the only Savior so they can enjoy spiritually meaningful lives.


Prayer Points

Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.

Pray for signs and wonders to happen among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.

Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Shui, Yunnan in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Shui, Yunnan
People Name in Country Shui, Yunnan
Natural Name Yunnan Shui
Pronunciation Yoo-nahn Shway
Alternate Names Shui; Sui
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 12,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14922
ROP3 Code 108968
ROP25 Code 307484
ROP25 Name Shui
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The 1990 national census listed a total of 7,314 Shui people living in Yunnan Province. More than 6,800 live in the Huangnihe District of Fuyuan County, while 490 inhabit the Dahe and Long'an districts of Yiliang County.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The 1990 national census listed a total of 7,314 Shui people living in Yunnan Province. More than 6,800 live in the Huangnihe District of Fuyuan County, while 490 inhabit the Dahe and Long'an districts of Yiliang County..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Shui, Yunnan in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
0.30 %
Ethnic Religions
94.70 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chinese, Mandarin (12,000 speakers)
Language Code cmn   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chinese, Mandarin (12,000 speakers)
Language Code cmn   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chinese, Mandarin

Primary Language:  Chinese, Mandarin

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1864-1986)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1857-1981)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1874-2018)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus film: view in Mandarin Chinese Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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