Liwu in China

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

Introduction / History

Apart from their neighbors, few people have ever heard of the Liwu. They do not have much interaction with the other people groups in their area. In the 1950s the Chinese authorities turned down the claims of the Liwu, who asked to be recognized as a distinct ethnic group. Instead, they were placed in the official Yi nationality which contains approximately 120 different ethnolinguistic groups spread throughout southern China.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In the past many men from different branches of the Yi nationality obtained their wives by force. When Samuel Clarke visited in the early 1900s, he reported, "The bridegroom gathers his friends and makes an attack on the maiden's home. Arming themselves with cudgels ... they approach secretly and then rush towards the house. Strenuous efforts are made by the occupants to prevent their entering, and weighty blows are exchanged. ... Occasionally during these fights, the maiden's home is quite dismantled. The negotiations being concluded, preparations are made for escorting the bride to her new home. On arriving at the bridegroom's house there is a scuffle. The veil is snatched from the bride's face by her kinsmen, who do their utmost to throw it on the roof, to signify that she will rule over the occupants when she enters. The bridegroom's people, on the other hand, do all they can to trample it down on the doorstep as an indication of the rigor with which the newcomer will be subjected to the ruling of the head of the house. Much blood is sometimes shed, and people are often seriously injured in these skirmishes."


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Liwu believe their souls live on after death, so they make great preparations to help the soul of a deceased Liwu find its way back to the ancestral home. For this reason, deceased Liwu are buried in their traditional clothing and with objects that help the spirits identify the person as a Liwu.

The Liwu suffer the misfortune of living in one of the most unevangelized and neglected areas in all of China. As a result, there are no churches or known Christians in their midst. Most have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Needs?

Without the guidance of Christ, these people are like sheep without a shepherd. They need the good shepherd in their families and communities.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.

Pray for loving workers.

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 Liwu in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Liwu
People Name in Country Liwu
Pronunciation Lee-woo
Alternate Names Liang'e Ren
Population this Country 5,500
Population all Countries 5,500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18562
ROP3 Code 114179
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 Totaling 4,300 people, the only known members of the Liwu ethnic group live in the Liang'e and Jiehu communities of Xinghu District, in Yongsheng County of northern Yunnan Province. The Liwu live in remote villages in high, isolated 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 Totaling 4,300 people, the only known members of the Liwu ethnic group live in the Liang'e and Jiehu communities of Xinghu District, in Yongsheng County of northern Yunnan Province. The Liwu live in remote villages in high, isolated mountains..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
97.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
3.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Language unknown (5,500 speakers)
Language Code xxx   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Language unknown (5,500 speakers)
Language Code xxx   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Language unknown

Primary Language:  Language unknown

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
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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