Eastern Lipo in China

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

Identity

Strangely, the Eastern Lipo have been included in the Lisu nationality at local administrative levels but are considered part of the Yi nationality at the national level - a classification that angers them. They have more in common historically and linguistically with the Lisu than with the Yi. The Eastern Lipo have a different language, dress, and history from the Western Lipo.


History

The Eastern Lipo originally lived with the Lisu in the Salween Valley, but they migrated to the Wuding area after suffering a crushing military defeat at the Salween River in 1812. In October 1995 a huge earthquake struck the Wuding District. One hundred and thirty thousand homes - many belonging to Eastern Lipo people - were destroyed. Fifty people were killed, 1,000 wounded, and 200,000 people were left homeless.


Customs

The Eastern Lipo occasionally intermarry with neighboring tribes. Most of their culture is now centered around the church and their strong Christian faith.


Religion

The majority of Eastern Lipo are professing Christians. They were first converted by Australian missionary-doctor Arthur Nicholls, who traveled to the area in 1906. Conversions occurred almost immediately. In 1907, 60 Eastern Lipo believers traveled 97 kilometers (60 mi.) to Sapushan to participate in the Harvest Thanksgiving Service. In 1913 the four Gospels were translated into Eastern Lipo, using the Pollard script. By 1922 it was reported that the Lipo's "progress toward self-support is truly amazing and most gratifying. Already in many centers half of the working expenses are met by the native church." The Eastern Lipo church experienced severe persecution during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1978 one pastor "had both his arms crippled from being hung up for 15 days with galvanized wire which was wrenched tighter with pliers after every refusal to give up his faith."


Christianity

In 1986 the Eastern Lipo, Naluo, Gesu, Eastern Nasu, A-Hmao, and Han believers in Sayingpan built Yunnan's largest church (1,500 seats) with their own labor and money. Their dedication and sacrifice was a tremendous witness to the local authorities. By 1988, in Luquan County alone, 475 Communist cadres and 390 Communist Youth League members had accepted the gospel. By 1990 there was estimated to be at least 60,000 Eastern Lipo believers. In early 1998 Eastern Lipo churches sent evangelists to ten unreached minorities throughout southern China.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Lipo, Eastern in China.


Profile Source:   Operation China, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Lipo, Eastern
People Name in Country Lipo, Eastern
Natural Name Eastern Lipo
Pronunciation Lee-po
Alternate Names Black Lisu; Eastern Lisu; He Lisu; Heipo; Li-a; Lipoo; Lipuo; Lisu Taku; Lizu; Machi; Machipuo; Taku
Population this Country 117,000
Population all Countries 117,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 18558
ROP3 Code 114175
ROP25 Code 304741
ROP25 Name Lipo
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 90,000 Eastern Lipo live in scattered communities across three counties in northern Yunnan and southern Sichuan provinces, primarily along the upper Yangtze River watershed. The majority live in Wuding and Yuanmou counties. Eastern Lipo communities are located from Panzhihua in Sichuan all the way down to the outskirts of Kunming city in Yunnan.   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 90,000 Eastern Lipo live in scattered communities across three counties in northern Yunnan and southern Sichuan provinces, primarily along the upper Yangtze River watershed. The majority live in Wuding and Yuanmou counties. Eastern Lipo communities are located from Panzhihua in Sichuan all the way down to the outskirts of Kunming city in Yunnan..   Source:  Operation China, 2000

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 50.00 %)
67.00 %
Ethnic Religions
31.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
2.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Lipo (117,000 speakers)
Language Code lpo   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Lipo (117,000 speakers)
Language Code lpo   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Lipo

Primary Language:  Lipo

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1912-1936)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1951)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2016)
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) 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 Jesus Film: view in Lipo Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Lipo YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Lipo YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Operation China, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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