Yuanyang Nisu in China

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

Introduction / History

The Yuanyang Nisu are believed to have migrated into their present areas from locations to the north, such as Yuanjiang, Shiping, and Jianshui, during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Because of their geographic dispersion, their dialect and customs gradually evolved so that today this group should be considered distinct from other Nisu groups in China.

The Yuanyang Nisu are different from the other Nisu groups in southern China because of dialect differences and cultural variation. They have been included in the official Yi nationality by the Chinese authorities.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Unmarried Yuanyang Nisu girls wear cockscomb headdresses. Each hat contains as many as 1,200 silver beads. Even after marriage, Yuanyang Nisu women take pride in their clothing. Their headdresses are richly embroidered with laces that encircle the neck and flow down onto the back.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Yuanyang Nisu are polytheistic animists. "They feel the need to appease many gods and ward off many forms of evil. On the first 'rat day' of the year, Yuanyang Nisu in some areas appoint one family from each village to appease the 'god of the path'. Two chickens are sacrificed at every path of entrance into the village. They construct crosses made of bamboo strips and fasten the chickens' heads, wings and feet to the crosses with rope. Having done so, the bloody crosses are erected at the gate of each village to ward off evil. Finally, the family in charge of the ritual chant the following spell: 'One mountain, one village, one village guardian, one village leader and all of the families under him - one path and all the doors along it - may the god of the path protect the paths to all the doors, may all the demons be frightened away. If we have succeeded, then come to our aid. We have worshipped you with a meat sacrifice; if you are satisfied then be our guardian from this day forward.'"

There are both Catholic and Protestant believers among the Yuanyang Nisu in Yuanyang County and surrounding areas. Missionaries translated Scripture portions into Yanyuang Nisu in 1913 and the entire New Testament in 1948, but the script used is now obsolete.


What Are Their Needs?

The Yuanyang Nisu people need easy access to the Scriptures and discipleship materials.


Prayer Points

Pray for a revision of the New Testament in modern script for the few believers.
Pray that "chicken crosses" will become "bridges of God" and redemptive analogies to the Cross of Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Nisu, Yuanyang in China.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Nisu, Yuanyang
People Name in Country Nisu, Yuanyang
Natural Name Yuanyang Nisu
Pronunciation Yoo-ahn-yung Nee-soo
Alternate Names Hei Yi; Lolo; Luoluo; Neisu; Niesu; Nisu; Nisupo; Nuosu
Population this Country 266,000
Population all Countries 266,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
PeopleID3 18638
ROP3 Code 114259
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 200,000 Yuanyang Nisu live in southern Yunnan. Some 135,000 inhabit areas south of the Honghe River in Yuanyang, Honghe, Jinping, Yuanjiang, and Luchun counties. Others live in Mojiang, Jiangcheng, Pu'er, and Simao counties.   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 200,000 Yuanyang Nisu live in southern Yunnan. Some 135,000 inhabit areas south of the Honghe River in Yuanyang, Honghe, Jinping, Yuanjiang, and Luchun counties. Others live in Mojiang, Jiangcheng, Pu'er, and Simao counties..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.72 %)
1.50 %
Ethnic Religions
92.50 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
6.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nisu, Southern (266,000 speakers)
Language Code nsd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nisu, Southern (266,000 speakers)
Language Code nsd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nisu, Southern

Primary Language:  Nisu, Southern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2006)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nisu, Southern 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 Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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