Nasu, Wusa in China

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

Introduction / History

The Wusa Nasu claim they are descended from their esteemed ancestor Dumu, "who had six sons after moving into the region of present-day Zhaotong. These six sons became separate tribes - one of the tribes being the Wusa. Among the other tribes were the Wumeng and Mangbu Nosu. These six tribes have developed quite separately in terms of language."

The Wusa Nasu speak a different language from the several other Yi groups in southern China who use the autonym Nasu. The name Wusa is an ancient tribal name which formerly designated this people group.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Wusa Nasu are herders of goats, sheep, cattle and pigs. Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) the Wusa Nasu have used Chinese names, although many still also have Wusa names which consist of two characters. Folk dancing is an important part of Wusa Nasu culture. They dance at weddings, festivals, and at family get-togethers. Children often wear hats decorated with pictures of the sun, moon, and stars.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Wusa Nasu used to bury their dead but now they cremate them. The people worry that their relatives' souls will not reach their ancestors' homeland, so shamans are called on to perform rituals over the dead body. Shamans still operate in Weining County, but most of them are over 60 years old. Nature worship is embedded in Wusa Nasu customs. They particularly revere the sun and the moon. In totem worship they idolize woodcarvings of bamboo, cranes, tigers, and dragons.

More than one-quarter of Wusa Nasu are Christians today. Missionaries commenced work among them in the early 1900s. In 1907 the Wusa Nasu tried to murder Samuel Pollard because many of their AHmao tenants were being converted. The Wusa Nasu feared the missionaries were giving poison to the AHmao to put in their wells. By 1911 the work was advancing slowly. It was reported: "Some of them [Wusa Nasu] gather a little consolation from the coming of Christianity, and hope that it means an arrest of their decline." Large numbers of Wusa Nasu have followed Christ, including about half of the population in Weining County; in other areas they have firmly resisted the advance of Christianity.


What Are Their Needs?

Like people everywhere, the Wusa Nasu people need to allow the loving savior to direct their lives. They need his forgiveness for sin.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will break the resistance of non-believers and embolden believers to witness as resistance crumbles.
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 Nasu, Wusa in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Nasu, Wusa
People Name in Country Nasu, Wusa
Pronunciation Nah-soo, Woo-sa
Alternate Names Lousu; Nasu; Nasupo; Wusa
Population this Country 323,000
Population all Countries 323,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 18629
ROP3 Code 114250
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 250,000 Wusa Nasu people live in seven counties of northwest Guizhou Province and in three counties of northeast Yunnan Province in southern China. The Wusa Nasu are the dominant Yi group in this region of China. The highest concentrations are found in Weining, Shuicheng, Hezhang, and Nayong counties of Guizhou; and in Xuanwei County of Yunnan where 58,000 reportedly live.   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 250,000 Wusa Nasu people live in seven counties of northwest Guizhou Province and in three counties of northeast Yunnan Province in southern China. The Wusa Nasu are the dominant Yi group in this region of China. The highest concentrations are found in Weining, Shuicheng, Hezhang, and Nayong counties of Guizhou; and in Xuanwei County of Yunnan where 58,000 reportedly live..   Source:  Operation China, 2000

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 24.14 %)
30.00 %
Ethnic Religions
63.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
7.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nasu, Wumeng (323,000 speakers)
Language Code ywu   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nasu, Wumeng (323,000 speakers)
Language Code ywu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nasu, Wumeng

Primary Language:  Nasu, Wumeng

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

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


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