The Adu are an interesting people group, in that they have been officially included in the Yi nationality but speak a form of Yunnan Chinese.
Yunnan has witnessed numerous ethnic migrations. Hemmed in by huge mountains that separate it from its Southeast Asian neighbors, Yunnan has witnessed a massive fusion and scattering of people groups. The Yi have splintered into dozens of ethnic components, of which the Adu are just one. As clans and tribes moved away they formed their own communities and gradually forgot their relationship to the larger group. After centuries of isolation these different groups have developed their own identity, customs and languages.
Marriage customs are simple among the Adu. In the past, parents were responsible for arranging their children's partners, but today most Adu youth choose their partners. The custom of paying a dowry, or bride price, has also lessened in recent decades. These days it is essential to own certain material possessions for a young Adu man to be considered attractive to a woman. These include a color TV, cell phone, motorbike, sewing machine, refrigerator, and washing machine.
The majority of Adu under the age of 40 are nonreligious. At most they observe customs relating to ancestor worship, and they may clean their ancestors' graves once a year. Most elderly Adu, however, retain their animistic practices and rituals, including worship of the spirits of trees, mountains, dragons, and rivers. The animism of the Adu is certain to diminish as time passes.
There are no known followers of Christ among the Adu. Few members of this small tribe have ever been exposed to the gospel. The Christian organization Global Recordings Network traveled to the Adu in 1999 and produced the first ever gospel message in the Adu language. Christians can potentially use this resource to take the gospel to the Adu for the first time.
Without the guidance of Christ, these people are like sheep without a shepherd. They need the good shepherd in their families and communities.
Pray for the spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so they can understand and respond to Christ.
Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.
Pray that the Adu people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.
Scripture Prayers for the Adu in China.
Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Adu |
People Name in Country | Adu |
Pronunciation |
Ah-doo
|
Alternate Names | |
Population this Country | 8,200 |
Population all Countries | 8,200 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 18387 |
ROP3 Code | 113980 |
Country | China | ||
Region | Asia, Northeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 16 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | More than 6,500 Adu people live in central Yunnan Province in southwest China. Approximately 3,500 live in Huaning County within Yuxi Prefecture. Their village names in Huaning are Songzichang, Xinzhai, Keju, and Chengmentong. There are many additional villages in the Lufeng District. An official Chinese report also lists 2,025 Adu people in the mountains of Haikou District in Chengjiang County, in the northern tip of Yuxi Prefecture. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Country | China |
Region | Asia, Northeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 16 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | More than 6,500 Adu people live in central Yunnan Province in southwest China. Approximately 3,500 live in Huaning County within Yuxi Prefecture. Their village names in Huaning are Songzichang, Xinzhai, Keju, and Chengmentong. There are many additional villages in the Lufeng District. An official Chinese report also lists 2,025 Adu people in the mountains of Haikou District in Chengjiang County, in the northern tip of Yuxi Prefecture.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Primary Religion: | Non-Religious |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
45.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
55.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Chinese, Mandarin (8,200 speakers) |
Language Code | cmn Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Chinese, Mandarin (8,200 speakers) |
Language Code | cmn Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Chinese, Mandarin |
Primary Language: Chinese, Mandarin
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1864-1986) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1857-1981) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1874-2018) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Operation China, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group location: Operation China. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |