Enipu in China

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

Introduction / History

The Enipu claim to have a history of at least 400 years. Their past has been one of struggle against being assimilated by the dominant Han Chinese. As a result, the Enipu moved to extremely remote mountainous locations where they could continue their lives in relative obscurity. The Enipu living in Weishan County moved from Nanjian around 200 years ago.

The Enipu are one of 120 different ethnic groups in southern China who were combined into the official Yi nationality by the Chinese authorities. French Catholic missionary Pere Paul Vial, who worked with two Yi groups, expressed his passion for getting the lesser-known Yi groups recognized and accepted by the Han. Vial wrote, "I love him [the Yi] because he is good, I love him because he is scorned."


What Are Their Lives Like?

Many Yi groups, including the Enipu, do not have written genealogies. They engage in oral competitions, reciting long lists of names. It is a disgrace to make mistakes in one's own genealogy and an insult to do so in another person's. In Enipu culture, the door is considered the most important part of the house. The place of honor at meals is reserved for the person who sits with his back to the wall and his face toward the door.


What Are Their Beliefs?

For three years after death they believe the soul of the deceased roams. An effigy of wood, hemp or orchid root, in which magical formulas have fixed the soul, is kept in a box or beneath the roof of the house. At the end of three years the effigy is thrown away, the body is exhumed and burned, and the ashes are placed in an urn and put in a new location.


What Are Their Needs?

The areas inhabited by the Enipu are practically devoid of any Christian presence. As a result, today there are no known Christians among the Enipu people. They live isolated lives in their mountain communities and have yet to be engaged by any messengers of the gospel.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling them to himself.
Pray for loving, helpful workers.
Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord.
Pray for a thriving church planting movement in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Enipu in China.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Enipu
People Name in Country Enipu
Pronunciation Uh-nee-poo
Alternate Names Eniba; Enibo
Population this Country 21,000
Population all Countries 21,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18449
ROP3 Code 114049
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 16,000 Enipu live in the Dali Prefecture of Yunnan Province. The majority (11,000) live within Nanjian County, while 5,000 inhabit areas in Weishan County. In western Nanjian County the Enipu are dispersed in the Wanubu, Baishajing, and Laojiaku villages of Ximin District; and in Ertaipo Village of Langcang District. In Weishan County they inhabit villages in the Yinchang, Qinghe, Qingmin, and Wuxing communities of Qinghua District.   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 16,000 Enipu live in the Dali Prefecture of Yunnan Province. The majority (11,000) live within Nanjian County, while 5,000 inhabit areas in Weishan County. In western Nanjian County the Enipu are dispersed in the Wanubu, Baishajing, and Laojiaku villages of Ximin District; and in Ertaipo Village of Langcang District. In Weishan County they inhabit villages in the Yinchang, Qinghe, Qingmin, and Wuxing communities of Qinghua District..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
98.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
2.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Lolopo (21,000 speakers)
Language Code ycl   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Lolopo (21,000 speakers)
Language Code ycl   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Lolopo

Primary Language:  Lolopo

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2016)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
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 LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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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