Southern Mashan Miao in China

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

Introduction / History

The Southern Mashan Miao are a group who migrated south following persecution against them in the past. The Chinese Canon of Shuen records one Miao group, the "San Miao," being driven into the mountains of San Wei around 4,000 years ago.

Although the government considers them a part of the Miao nationality, the Southern Mashan Miao are a distinct people group. They live in small and compact communities, speak their own language, and have little to do with the outside world.

Wangmo County, the sole area where the Southern Mashan Miao live, was largely neglected by mission organizations in the pre-communist era. There are a few Catholic believers among the Bouyei minority to the north, but the Miao and Bouyei have little contact with each other and speak different languages. Most Southern Mashan Miao cannot speak more than basic Mandarin; fewer still are able to read or write Chinese.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Miao believe there was a time when dragons guarded their families, crops, animals, and trees against disease and pestilence. The people regularly sacrificed chickens to the dragons and burned paper money to procure their favor.


What Are Their Beliefs?

During funeral chants, which predate all Christian influence, many Miao groups refer to an outer place of darkness where the spirit of the deceased must travel. They believe it is a horrible place of demons, torments, and gnashing of teeth. Legend claims there was once a time when the Miao were able to climb to heaven on a huge fir tree, but the gods struck it down. Left with no other way to communicate with heaven, the people in Yanpai village of Xijiang County in Guizhou climbed to the top of the highest mountain and thrust a bamboo branch into its crest, signaling to the gods, "All is not well." The Southern Mashan Miao are animists, living in fear of evil spirits.


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 Southern 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 Southern 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 Southern
People Name in Country Miao, Mashan Southern
Natural Name Southern Mashan Miao
Pronunciation Ma-shahn Meow
Alternate Names Hmong, Southern Mashan; Southern Mashan Miao
Population this Country 17,000
Population all Countries 17,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18591
ROP3 Code 114210
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 The Southern Mashan are one of the smallest of the distinct Miao language groups in China, with a 1990 population of 10,000 people. Despite the one-child policy in China, many Southern Mashan Miao have several children. This has resulted in a rapid population increase: their number was expected to exceed 12,000 by the year 2000. The Southern Mashan Miao live in a small region in the Mashan and Lekuan districts of Wangmo County. Wangmo is located in the extreme southern part of Guizhou Province. Their villages are accessible only by a lengthy walk over treacherous trails. For much of the year the weather in the region is wet and miserably cold.   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 The Southern Mashan are one of the smallest of the distinct Miao language groups in China, with a 1990 population of 10,000 people. Despite the one-child policy in China, many Southern Mashan Miao have several children. This has resulted in a rapid population increase: their number was expected to exceed 12,000 by the year 2000. The Southern Mashan Miao live in a small region in the Mashan and Lekuan districts of Wangmo County. Wangmo is located in the extreme southern part of Guizhou Province. Their villages are accessible only by a lengthy walk over treacherous trails. For much of the year the weather in the region is wet and miserably cold..   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, Southern Mashan (17,000 speakers)
Language Code hma   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Miao, Southern Mashan (17,000 speakers)
Language Code hma   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Miao, Southern Mashan

Primary Language:  Miao, Southern 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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