Northern Mashan Miao in China

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

Introduction / History

According to Miao tradition there were originally six suns, but their intense heat dried up everything on the earth. Then the people decided to shoot down all the suns, except one. But they discovered this was impossible to do and, instead, shot at the suns' reflections in the lake. The remaining sun became frightened and refused to come out, plunging the world into continual darkness. The Miao used various methods to coax the sun out, but nothing worked. Then a rooster crowed, and suddenly the sun appeared. The Miao conclude that this is why the sun rises every morning when the rooster crows.

Officially included under the Miao nationality, the Northern Mashan Miao language is part of the so-called Chuanqiandian language group. This term was derived from the historical names of the three provinces of Sichuan (Chuan), Guizhou (Qian), and Yunnan (Dian). Although different sources have listed a variety of figures for the number of Miao groups in China - including "seventy," and "forty in Guizhou," all agree that the Miao are a collection of groups rather than one cohesive ethnolinguistic identity.


What Are Their Lives Like?

One of the numerous Miao festivals is Sister's Day. It is held every spring to enable young women to meet with young men from other villages. A series of games and dances is arranged, and glutinous rice dishes are prepared. Playing the lusheng (a bamboo instrument) is popular during these festivals. Young men who play skillfully are favored by the girls.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Northern Mashan Miao offer sacrifices to a demon they believe dwells in the highest mountain. They also sacrifice to various other deities, believing their efforts can summon protective dragons to act on their behalf.

The Northern Mashan Miao are an unreached people group who have never appeared on a list of unreached peoples. Most foreign agencies prefer to view all the Miao as one people, despite their multiplicity of languages and customs. There are no known churches or house fellowships among the Northern Mashan Miao. Their social and community structures are very exclusive, creating an additional barrier to the introduction of the gospel among them.


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 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 Northern Mashan Miao 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 Miao, Mashan Northern in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Miao

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Miao, Mashan Northern
People Name in Country Miao, Mashan Northern
Natural Name Northern Mashan Miao
Pronunciation Ma-shahn Meow
Alternate Names Hmong, Northern Mashan; Northern Mashan Miao
Population this Country 60,000
Population all Countries 60,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18590
ROP3 Code 114209
ROP25 Code 309256
ROP25 Name Mashan Miao
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 A 1990 linguistic survey reported 35,000 speakers of the Northern Mashan Miao language. By the end of the twentieth century their population was expected to exceed 50,000. The Northern Mashan Miao live in one small location at the juncture of three counties: the Daihua District of Changshun County, the Bianyang District of Luodian County, and the Dongshan District of Huishui County. All are located in the southern part of Guizhou Province.   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 A 1990 linguistic survey reported 35,000 speakers of the Northern Mashan Miao language. By the end of the twentieth century their population was expected to exceed 50,000. The Northern Mashan Miao live in one small location at the juncture of three counties: the Daihua District of Changshun County, the Bianyang District of Luodian County, and the Dongshan District of Huishui County. All are located in the southern part of Guizhou Province..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
95.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Miao, Northern Mashan (60,000 speakers)
Language Code hmp   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Miao, Northern Mashan (60,000 speakers)
Language Code hmp   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Miao, Northern Mashan

Primary Language:  Miao, Northern Mashan

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

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  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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