Lawa in China

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

Introduction / History

The Lawa were also known historically as the Tame Wa. They assimilated more quickly to the cultures of surrounding peoples than did the Kawa, or Wild Wa, who live in isolated communities at least 1,500 meters (5,000 ft.) up in the mountains.

The Lawa language in China is not intelligible with Lawa spoken in Thailand, which has "surprisingly great dialect differences." Despite their relatively small population, the Christian ministry Global Recordings has produced cassettes in seven different Lawa dialects in Thailand alone. The Lawa now use a Roman script, but in the past they communicated by engraving bamboo strips or sending objects to other villages. "Objects used implied specific meaning or feelings. For instance, sugarcane, banana or salt meant friendship, but pepper meant anger, feathers urgency, and gunpowder and bullets the intention of clan warfare."


What Are Their Lives Like?

Having adopted Theravada Buddhism under the influence of the Tais many centuries ago, the Lawa became a more gentle people than their headhunting cousins in the mountains. The Lawa's Buddhism is cloaked with traditional animistic and polytheistic rituals, as well as with ancestor worship.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In addition to their adherence to Buddhism, the Lawa believe in "house spirits, local spirits, and the spirits of the iron mines. They also rely heavily on witchdoctors. Many deities are regarded as disembodied spirits of ancient heroes." Christian churches are also found in many Lawa villages in China.

Lawa Christians in China first received the gospel in the 1920s from William Young of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society and later from his two sons: "Young succeeded against all odds to win the crude Wa tribe to Christianity." The Lawa's conversion was attained not only by preaching and words but by Young's self-sacrificial concern for the people. Historian T'ien Ju-K'ang recorded: "At the onset he was fiercely opposed by the Wa who threatened to cut off his head if he ever dared to approach their settlement again. Once in 1924, Young discovered the body of a dying woman lying in a ditch outside a village. She was apparently a victim of smallpox who had been left for dead. Young immediately erected a shed and brought in the woman for treatment, washing her sores continuously for three days. To draw out the puss, Young did not hesitate to use his own mouth. His devotion and compassion opened the hearts of countless Wa to receive his message."


What Are Their Needs?

The Lawas have a strong church today. They need to spread the fragrance of Christ to others who lack a gospel witness.


Prayer Points

Pray for revival fire to move in Lawa churches, driving them to love and good works.
Pray for a thousand Lawa disciples to make disciples of others.
Pray for the Lord to bless the Lawa families physically and spiritually.
Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.


Scripture Prayers for the Lawa in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Lawa
People Name in Country Lawa
Pronunciation Lah-wa
Alternate Names Lava; Lavua; Luwa; L'wa; Mountain Lawa; Tame Wa; Western Lawa
Population this Country 107,000
Population all Countries 107,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 18543
ROP3 Code 114160
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The majority inhabit China's Yongle and Zhenkang counties in Yunnan Province, while numerous Western Lawa are also found in northern Thailand's Chiang Mai and Maehongson provinces.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The majority inhabit China's Yongle and Zhenkang counties in Yunnan Province, while numerous Western Lawa are also found in northern Thailand's Chiang Mai and Maehongson provinces..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
70.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 18.00 %)
20.00 %
Ethnic Religions
9.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
1.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Awa (China) (107,000 speakers)
Language Code vwa   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Awa (China) (107,000 speakers)
Language Code vwa   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Awa (China)

Primary Language:  Awa (China)

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2024)
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 Awa (China) Jesus Film Project
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2025  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.