Rao in China

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

Introduction / History

The Rao claim to have migrated from Yunnan long ago. They say they were a Yao group who separated and gradually formed their own ethnic identity. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) the Rao were repeatedly attacked by the Chinese.

The official classification of the Rao is a confusing matter. They are not recognized as a distinct group by the Chinese authorities, who have placed them as part of two other minority groups. The Rao in Majiang County have been officially included as part of the Yao nationality since 1991, while those in Duyun, about 100 kilometers (62 mi.) to the south of Majiang, have been counted as part of the Bouyei nationality. Before 1949 the Rao in Majiang used another name, which meant "sudden death."


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Rao are hardworking farmers. They live in Guizhou, a province with poor health care. Every November the Rao hold a winter festival where they remember their customs and acknowledge their uniqueness as a people. Each Rao village consists of members of the same family name. Rao people are only permitted to marry within their own clan. Single women wear an embroidered headdress; but once they are married, they wear black or dark blue headdresses.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In the past the Rao were animists, but they were forced to discontinue all spiritual practices during the antireligious campaigns of the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s.

The Rao are a relatively untouched people group. They have never had a single known Christian believer, and no more than a relative handful are aware of the existence of Jesus Christ. The person privileged to take the gospel to the Rao will need the tenacity of Samuel Zwemer, who stated, "Frequent set-backs and apparent failure never disheartened the real pioneer. Occasional martyrdoms are only a fresh incentive. Opposition is a stimulus to greater activity."


What Are Their Needs?

There is a need for health care teams to help them to adopt proper health care practices.


Prayer Points

Pray that Christian medical teams will have a vision to go into these communities, showing the love of Jesus in practical ways.
Pray that the Lord would reveal himself in visions to the Rao people, since there is little or no exposure to the gospel among them.
Pray that the Lord would begin to build his church among the Rao, despite no history of Christianity in their culture.
Pray for a spiritual movement among them that would erase their spiritual barrenness.


Scripture Prayers for the Rao in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Rao
People Name in Country Rao
Pronunciation Raow
Alternate Names Raojia; Shui Gelao; Yao Bei Miao; Yao Miao; Yaojia
Population this Country 13,000
Population all Countries 13,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 0  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18673
ROP3 Code 114299
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 Approximately 10,000 members of the Rao tribe are located in Guizhou Province. More than 4,000 live in six large villages in the Long Shan (Dragon Mountains) in Majiang County, west of Kaili City. A further 2,454 Rao live in 21 villages in Duyun County to the south of Majiang. The largest Rao villages in Duyun are Yako (356 Rao people), Ping (311), Xiao (215), Wan (181), and Zhahe (172). Most Rao communities are isolated, set back into the mountains a few hours' walk from the nearest road. The Chinese characters for Guizhou mean "precious state." However, the original name for the region was Kingdom of Demons.   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 Approximately 10,000 members of the Rao tribe are located in Guizhou Province. More than 4,000 live in six large villages in the Long Shan (Dragon Mountains) in Majiang County, west of Kaili City. A further 2,454 Rao live in 21 villages in Duyun County to the south of Majiang. The largest Rao villages in Duyun are Yako (356 Rao people), Ping (311), Xiao (215), Wan (181), and Zhahe (172). Most Rao communities are isolated, set back into the mountains a few hours' walk from the nearest road. The Chinese characters for Guizhou mean "precious state." However, the original name for the region was Kingdom of Demons..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Rao in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
93.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
7.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language T'en (13,000 speakers)
Language Code tct   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language T'en (13,000 speakers)
Language Code tct   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking T'en

Primary Language:  T'en

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 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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