Butuo Nosu in China

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

Introduction / History

The Butuo Nosu originally lived farther north of their present location. Speaking of a neighboring area in northern Yunnan Province, one historian notes, "Between 1796 and 1821, the Chinese extended their influence. At times when the Chinese were weak, the [Nosu] expanded out of Daliangshan: for example, in 1802, 1814, 1838-39, and from 1875 to 1892. By 1907, the Nosu controlled most areas, with the Chinese fortified in the towns. During the troubled times of the early Republic, the number of Chinese troops was reduced in the area, and the Nosu consequently became more troublesome: in 1919, they invaded Zhaojue, in 1920 they burned Xining, and in 1937 they killed the magistrate of Leibo."

The Butuo Nosu are a distinct language group within the larger Nosu ethnicity. The Nosu, in turn, have been officially counted as part of the Yi nationality by Chinese authorities. The Butuo Nosu share very little in common with other Yi groups in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, except for some legends and general cultural traits. In many locations the Butuo Nosu live alongside the Suodi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Butuo Nosu pride themselves on being tough, resilient, and strong people. Their homes and villages are constructed with high fences, a sign of their violent and murderous past.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Butuo Nosu practice a complex form of polytheism. They fear and appease numerous mountain deities and spirits of war, harvests, and rivers, among others. They tie these beliefs in with deep reverence for their ancestors.

The Butuo Nosu are a large, unreached people group. There are a few hundred Catholics among them, mostly elderly people who meet in Chinese-language churches. We don't know if the turning to Christ by 12,000 Nosu farther north has impacted the Butuo Nosu. Nosu audio tapes and the JESUS Film are not understood by most Butuo Nosu.


What Are Their Needs?

The Butuo Nosu people need to put their hope in the King of kings, realizing that he is the one who gives them worth and dignity.


Prayer Points

Pray the indigenous believers will meet in their own churches, not in Chinese-language churches.
Pray for power encounter with local spirits. Pray the JESUS Film will be dubbed into the local language.
Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.
Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.
Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Nosu, Butuo in China.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Nosu, Butuo
People Name in Country Nosu, Butuo
Natural Name Butuo Nosu
Pronunciation BOO-twoh NOR-soo
Alternate Names Boo Yi; Butuo Yi; East-Lower-Northern Yi
Population this Country 274,000
Population all Countries 274,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
PeopleID3 18639
ROP3 Code 114260
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 According to Professor James Matisoff, who heads up the Department of Tibeto- Burman Linguistic Studies at the University of California at Berkeley, there are "about 200,000 speakers" of the Butuo Nosu language in southern Sichuan Province. Their name comes from their primary location, Butuo County. Others are found across parts of Puge, Ningnan, Huidong, and Huili counties. The Butuo Nosu live at the southern end of the Daliangshan (Big Cold Mountains).   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 According to Professor James Matisoff, who heads up the Department of Tibeto- Burman Linguistic Studies at the University of California at Berkeley, there are "about 200,000 speakers" of the Butuo Nosu language in southern Sichuan Province. Their name comes from their primary location, Butuo County. Others are found across parts of Puge, Ningnan, Huidong, and Huili counties. The Butuo Nosu live at the southern end of the Daliangshan (Big Cold Mountains)..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Nosu, Butuo in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.05 %)
0.50 %
Ethnic Religions
95.50 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
4.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nuosu (274,000 speakers)
Language Code iii   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nuosu (274,000 speakers)
Language Code iii   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nuosu
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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