Central Bai in China

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

Introduction / History

“Bai” means white. The name of this people group may have originated from the sheepskin clothes they once wore or from the white marble found in Dali. Although the Chinese acknowledge two separate branches of Bai -- the Lemo and Nama -- the Central Bai scarcely qualify as an ethnic minority. The Bai were involved in the establishment of the Nanzhao Kingdom, located south of Dali. The kingdom grew so strong that they were able to defeat the Tang armies in the mid-700s. The kingdom flourished for 400 years until it collapsed in the tenth century and was replaced by the Kingdom of Dali. Dali, in turn, lasted until AD 1252 when it was overrun and destroyed by Mongol armies.

The Central Bai live in the fertile Yunnan Province, in southwestern China. Yunnan Province is home to a large number of ethnic minorities. Many of the Central Bai reside in the city of Dali.


What Are Their Lives Like?

During the 30 centuries the Bai have inhabited Dali, they have gradually been assimilated into Chinese culture. However, they continue to maintain a distinct social and cultural identity through extended families. Many cultivate rice, vegetables, and fruit, or grow barley, oats, and beans.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Unlike other Buddhist groups in Yunnan, most of which are Theravada Buddhists, the Central Bai are followers of Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism is the largest major tradition of Buddhism today and teaches that enlightenment can be attained in a single lifetime.


What Are Their Needs?

The Central Bai people need to hear about the savior who came to deliver them from fear of the spirit world and provide them with eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to establish his church among the Bai, and for it to multiply and expand as the church did in the Book of Acts.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower believers among the Central Bai to share the gospel with their extended families and their communities.
Pray for the Central Bai to be salt and light to other minorities in Yunnan Province.


Scripture Prayers for the Bai, Central in China.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bai, Central
People Name in Country Bai, Central
Natural Name Central Bai
Alternate Names Labbu; Minchia; Minjia; Minkia; Nama; Pai
Population this Country 869,000
Population all Countries 869,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 17
PeopleID3 21528
ROP3 Code 100776
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 Guizhou province: small enclave; Yunnan province: Eryuan, Heqing, Jianchuan, Lanping, and Yunlong.   Source:  Ethnologue 2018
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 Guizhou province: small enclave; Yunnan province: Eryuan, Heqing, Jianchuan, Lanping, and Yunlong..   Source:  Ethnologue 2018
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
33.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.08 %)
0.08 %
Ethnic Religions
66.92 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Bai, Central (869,000 speakers)
Language Code bca   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bai, Central (869,000 speakers)
Language Code bca   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bai, Central

Primary Language:  Bai, Central

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2005)
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
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bai, Central Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source David Stanley - Flickr  Creative Commons 
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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