Palyu in China

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

Introduction / History

The Palyu have not been included under any nationality in China. They were included in a generic list of Undetermined Minorities in the Chinese census. Palyu is this group's self-name. The Chinese and neighboring peoples call them Lai.

According to Paul Benedict, the traditional homeland of the Palyu was in southwest Guizhou and southern Yunnan provinces, where the Palyu have assimilated to the cultures and languages of Yi groups.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Palyu are proud of their ethnic identity and are eager to preserve their culture. Their language is gradually fading out and the people are fast being assimilated into the Han Chinese culture.

A Palyu home is made of wood and consists of two stories. The lower area is for animals, while the upper level is where the family sleeps.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Palyu have never been exposed to Buddhism, which many of the Mon-Khmer groups in western Yunnan have embraced. Instead, they practice animism and ancestor worship, and are careful not to offend the spirits they believe protect their communities.

Western Guangxi is one of the most gospel-neglected areas in all of China. There are a few believers in the region, but none known among the Palyu. In 1922, Rev. W. H. Oldfield, wrote an appeal for missionaries to reach the Palyu and other tribes in their region. Today, there are some Palyu believers, but no movement to Christ as yet.


What Are Their Needs?

The Palyu people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers them in John 10:10.


Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so they can understand and respond to Christ.

Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.

Pray that the Palyu people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Palyu in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Palyu
People Name in Country Palyu
Pronunciation Pal-yoo
Alternate Names Bolyu; Lai; Palju
Population this Country 16,000
Population all Countries 16,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14281
ROP3 Code 107801
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 More than 12,000 members of the Palyu tribe inhabit the farwestern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region - that section of Guangxi which juts out into Yunnan Province. The Palyu have been reported with vastly differing population figures. This is the result of linguists and anthropologists reporting according to their specific fields of interests. Most Palyu can no longer speak their language; they use the Chinese, Miao, or Yi languages spoken in the area. Linguists have reported figures of only 150, 500, and 800 speakers of Palyu. Foreign travelers are presently not permitted to visit western Guangxi.   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 More than 12,000 members of the Palyu tribe inhabit the farwestern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region - that section of Guangxi which juts out into Yunnan Province. The Palyu have been reported with vastly differing population figures. This is the result of linguists and anthropologists reporting according to their specific fields of interests. Most Palyu can no longer speak their language; they use the Chinese, Miao, or Yi languages spoken in the area. Linguists have reported figures of only 150, 500, and 800 speakers of Palyu. Foreign travelers are presently not permitted to visit western Guangxi..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.50 %)
6.30 %
Ethnic Religions
89.70 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
4.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Bolyu (16,000 speakers)
Language Code ply   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Palyu
Dialect Code 15438   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bolyu (16,000 speakers)
Language Code ply   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Palyu
Dialect Code 15438   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bolyu

Primary Language:  Bolyu

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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