Military campaigns waged by the Chinese during the Hong Wu (1368-1398) and the Jia Qing (1522-1566) periods of the Ming Dynasty caused the Ban Yao to migrate to their present location. The campaigns were often launched because the Yao refused to pay taxes. They claimed that they were once granted imperial privilege to avoid taxes from generation to generation.
The Ban Yao are officially considered part of the large Yao minority group. Although they recognize historical kinship with the Yao peoples, the Ban Yao now have their own customs, dress, and language. They are unable to use their own language to communicate with other Yao groups in Yunnan and must speak Chinese to communicate.
Until recently, a young Ban Yao man wishing to take a wife had to pay for her. Betrothal involved a negotiation of the bride-price. The price was divided into three different levels, 72, 60, or 48 ounces of silver, depending on the beauty and health of the young woman. The young woman's parents kept their daughter until the price had been paid in full. Some Ban Yao continue to share communal family homes with many of their relatives. The oldest living male is considered the head of the household.
The Ban Yao are primarily worshipers of nature and the spirits they believe control it. They believe demons dwell inside large mountains, and their fate is linked to whether or not the spirits are pleased with them.
The Bao Yao people know they need protection from the spirit world.
About a fifth of the Ban Yao have heard the gospel message through Hmong and Han believers. However, there are no known Christians among them. Reaching them with the good news is difficult because of their isolation and independent mind-set. The Ban Yao have lived and died for centuries without the knowledge of Christ.
Pray for the Lord to intervene in Ban Yao culture and call these people to his son.
Pray for workers who will go to the Ban Yao and share the gospel message.
Pray for hearts of the Ban Yao people to be drawn to Jesus.
Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.
Scripture Prayers for the Ban Yao in China.
Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Ban Yao |
People Name in Country | Ban Yao |
Pronunciation | Bahn-Yaow |
Alternate Names | Ban; Ban Mien |
Population this Country | 36,000 |
Population all Countries | 36,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 18411 |
ROP3 Code | 114005 |
ROP25 Code | 300794 |
ROP25 Name | Yao (Iu Mien) |
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 | Approximately 30,000 Ban Yao live in southwest China. The Ban Yao are the smallest of the three Yao groups (totaling 154,700) located in Yunnan Province. The Ban Yao live in the extreme southeastern arm of Yunnan and in adjacent areas of southwest Guangxi. They are noted for living at the top of verdant mountains throughout the area. Being a people who stubbornly keep to themselves and resist all pressure to change, they do not often appear in the market towns on the plain. 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 | Approximately 30,000 Ban Yao live in southwest China. The Ban Yao are the smallest of the three Yao groups (totaling 154,700) located in Yunnan Province. The Ban Yao live in the extreme southeastern arm of Yunnan and in adjacent areas of southwest Guangxi. They are noted for living at the top of verdant mountains throughout the area. Being a people who stubbornly keep to themselves and resist all pressure to change, they do not often appear in the market towns on the plain.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
95.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
5.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Iu Mien (36,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ium Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Iu Mien (36,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ium Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Iu Mien |
Primary Language: Iu Mien
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1932-1996) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1975-1991) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2007-2008) |
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 | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Iu Mien | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
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 | Scripture Earth Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Iu Mien | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Iu Mien | YouVersion Bibles |
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. |