Jianshui Nisu in China

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

Introduction / History

The Jianshui Nisu have been a dominant group in southern Yunnan for many centuries. Only during the past century have a small number of Jianshui Nisu been assimilated by Han Chinese who have settled in the area.

The Jianshui Nisu are part of the Yi nationality in China. Chinese records invariably mention two designations of Nisu in this part of the country: Hua Yao (Flowery Belt) and San Dao Hong (Three Stripes of Red). As one scholar found: "The Han titles are used in reference to costume differences; nevertheless, in this case, clothing styles correspond directly with the linguistic and cultural differences of two people groups - both of whom call themselves Nisu. ... Garment differences vary among some of the Jianshui Nisu in Gejiu and Mengzi counties, however, and the title San Dao Hong is not always used to refer to this people."


What Are Their Lives Like?

Women of this group living in Jianshui and Shiping counties wear three tightly wound stripes of red yarn in their hair, often partially covered by a red or white headdress. In Shiping County, "the family of the bride is to make a new costume to present to the bride on her wedding day. She is to keep this set of garments until the day she dies. The bride, in turn, makes a pair of pants from coarse cloth, with the leg holes sewn closed, and presents them to her groom on the wedding day. The groom, much to his chagrin, must put the pants on in front of all his guests during the wedding ceremony. The party judges the groom's intelligence based on how soon he is able to break his feet through the cuffs and put the pants on."


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Jianshui Nisu worship numerous spirits, some of whom are considered benevolent and others evil.

The first missionaries in Jianshui arrived in 1933 and stayed for two years. In 1945 a Presbyterian work began in Jianshui and was joined by two Italian missionaries. By 1950 there were a reported 200 Christians in Jianshui - all of them Han Chinese. In Shiping, a female missionary from the Seventh Day Adventists arrived in 1932. After a number of years, she had gained about 30 disciples. All missionaries were expelled in 1949, but by 1958 there were still 50 believers in Shiping. Today there are a small number of Nisu Christians in the Gaoda District of Tonghai County.


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 Nisu, Jianshui in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission

http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2016/07/29


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2016-07-29
People Name General Nisu, Jianshui
People Name in Country Nisu, Jianshui
Natural Name Jianshui Nisu
Pronunciation Jee-uhn-shway Nee-soo
Alternate Names Lolo; Luoluo; Luozu; Neisu; Niesu; Nisu; Nisupo; Nosu; San Dao Hong; Southern Yi; Yi; Yizu
Population this Country 231,000
Population all Countries 231,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
People ID 18636
ROP3 Code 114257
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 16  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Approximately 370,000 Jianshui Nisu people are located in southern Yunnan Province, primarily in Shiping, Jianshui, Gejiu, and Mengzi counties in Honghe Prefecture. About 13,000 live in Tonghai and Eshan counties of Yuxi Prefecture.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 16  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Approximately 370,000 Jianshui Nisu people are located in southern Yunnan Province, primarily in Shiping, Jianshui, Gejiu, and Mengzi counties in Honghe Prefecture. About 13,000 live in Tonghai and Eshan counties of Yuxi Prefecture..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Nisu, Jianshui in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
93.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
6.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nisu, Southern (231,000 speakers)
Language Code nsd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nisu, Southern (231,000 speakers)
Language Code nsd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nisu, Southern

Primary Language:  Nisu, Southern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2006)
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 Nisu, Southern Jesus Film Project
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2023  ArtWell - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.