Eastern Nasu in China

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

Introduction / History

The Nasu call themselves Nasu Puo. (Puo is an Yi word meaning "tribe" or "nationality.") Their name means "black people." In the past the Chinese called the Nasu Gani, which means "dry Yi." Early missionaries called this group Gani or Kopu.
Eastern Nasu - which has 24 vowels - is part of the Eastern Yi group of Tibeto-Burman. Nasu has an ancient script which can only be read by bimos (shamans).
For centuries - until the advent of Communism in 1949 - the Eastern Nasu captured slaves from among the Eastern Lipo and other ethnic groups in the region.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Prior to their conversion to Christianity, the Eastern Nasu carried around small baskets which they believed contained the souls of their ancestors. In 1909 Australian missionary Arthur G. Nicholls first contacted the Eastern Nasu. He reported, "These people are very drunken and immoral. We asked them if they were willing to throw away the baskets in which they profess to keep the spirits of their ancestors, and six families thereupon burnt their spirit baskets and other articles used in their dealings with demons."


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Eastern Nasu were trapped in a never-ending cycle of spirit appeasement until they turned to Christ. At the beginning, comprehension of their new religion was slow. It was reported: "They understand very little of Christian doctrine. But they understand that Christianity means no whisky and clean living. But when men and women are willing to take the spirit baskets their tribe has venerated for ages, and utensils used in demonolatry, and make a bonfire for them, it may be inferred that interest has deepened into conviction and conversion. Overall, this region the Sun of Righteousness is rising, and the people are turning to the light."
By 1914 a few Eastern Nasu churches had been established in Salowu, but the missionaries were stretched to the limit. "We are at our wits' end for workers. The work is pitifully undermanned." In response, the Lisu and AHmao churches sent evangelists to the Eastern Nasu. The four gospels were translated into Eastern Nasu in 1913, using the script invented by missionary Samuel Pollard. By the 1940s the Eastern Nasu church was being "used of God not only in evangelizing their own districts but also in sending missionaries to seek out and find untouched sections of their tribe in dangerous and far-distant territories. Magnanimously they have given out of overwhelming poverty so that many evangelistic journeys could be taken, and the number of families won to the Lord are counted in the hundreds."


What Are Their Needs?

The Eastern Nasu people need better medical facilities in their region.


Prayer Points

Pray Eastern Nasu Christians will be filled with holiness and used by the Lord to spread his light to those who remain in darkness.
Pray for many Eastern Nasu to be used by the Lord to spread the gospel far and wide.


Scripture Prayers for the Nasu, Eastern in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Nasu, Eastern
People Name in Country Nasu, Eastern
Natural Name Eastern Nasu
Pronunciation Nah-soo
Alternate Names Black Yi; Gan Yi; Gani; Ganyi; Gopu; Hei Yi; Kang-i; Kopu; Nasupuo
Population this Country 274,000
Population all Countries 274,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 18625
ROP3 Code 114245
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 400,000 Eastern Nasu live in northern Yunnan Province, especially in Wuding, Luquan, Xundian, and Dongchuan counties. They also spill across into Huili and Huidong counties in the southern part of Sichuan Province.   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 400,000 Eastern Nasu live in northern Yunnan Province, especially in Wuding, Luquan, Xundian, and Dongchuan counties. They also spill across into Huili and Huidong counties in the southern part of Sichuan Province..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 29.02 %)
35.00 %
Ethnic Religions
63.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
2.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Yi, Wuding-Luquan (274,000 speakers)
Language Code ywq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Yi, Wuding-Luquan (274,000 speakers)
Language Code ywq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Yi, Wuding-Luquan

Primary Language:  Yi, Wuding-Luquan

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1923)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1948)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2016)
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Yi, Wuding-Luquan Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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