Central Luoluopo in China

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

Introduction / History

The Central Luoluopo have been in their present location for many centuries. Over time the best land on the plains was taken by the Han. The Central Luoluopo were forced to migrate into the isolated mountains.

The name Luoluopo means "tigerdragon people" in the Luoluopo language. It is not the same name as Lolo, which was used by the Chinese in a derogatory manner to describe all Yi people until recently. The Central Luoluopo are one of more than 100 subgroups of Yi in Yunnan.

The Central Luoluopo speak a language belonging to the Central Yi language group, which in 1987 contained a total of 470,000 speakers. The Yi script is not used by the Central Luoluopo.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Central Luoluopo celebrate numerous festivals over the course of the year, most of which have religious significance. In January they observe the two-day Dragon Worship Festival. Sacrifices are made to the dragons of the water to ensure a good harvest and to prevent drought and famine. In Dayao County, the Central Luoluopo celebrate the Open Street Festival every February. It affords the chance for Luoluopo from different locations to meet and trade. Luoluopo youth dress in their finest clothes and take the opportunity to meet prospective partners. The social activities of the week include a unique traditional dance in which participants may only dance on their left foot. At all Central Luoluopo festivals a huge feast is prepared. Luoluopo men and women have the habit of smoking long pipes. Central Luoluopo youth are expected to be sexually active before marriage. All villages have a "flower house" where young people are allowed to come together after dark. Fidelity in marriage is stressed only after the first baby is born.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Central Luoluopo celebrate the Tiger Festival between the eighth and the 15th days of the first lunar month. The Luoluopo believe they are descended from tigers. The hero of the festival is the tiger, a person in costume who, after dancing on the open ground, rides a mountain god float to call on each home in the community and offer them a blessing.

French Catholic missionary Alfred Lietard and his team worked among the Central Luoluopo in the early part of the twentieth century. They wrote a detailed account of the group in 1913. The missionaries also translated the text of the "Prodigal Son" into Central Luoluopo, although this is no longer available. Today there are a small number of Central Luoluopo Christians attending churches in the townships, but the majority of Luoluopo have never heard the gospel. Central Luoluopo gospel recordings were produced in 1998.


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 authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.

Pray for signs and wonders to happen among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.

Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Luoluopo, Central in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Luoluopo, Central
People Name in Country Luoluopo, Central
Natural Name Central Luoluopo
Pronunciation Luoh-luoh-po
Alternate Names Black Yi; Hei Yi; Lolo; Luoluopo; Yi, Central
Population this Country 458,000
Population all Countries 458,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 9
PeopleID3 18567
ROP3 Code 114184
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 350,000 Central Luoluopo live in the central and north central parts of Yunnan Province. The great majority are located in Chuxiong Prefecture. In a 1957 study, Chuxiong reportedly contained 140,000 Luoluopo.   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 350,000 Central Luoluopo live in the central and north central parts of Yunnan Province. The great majority are located in Chuxiong Prefecture. In a 1957 study, Chuxiong reportedly contained 140,000 Luoluopo..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Luoluopo, Central in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.06 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
90.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
9.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Lolopo (458,000 speakers)
Language Code ycl   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Lolopo (458,000 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 Paul Noll 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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