Naisu in China

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

Introduction / History

Naisu women wear distinctive red clothing and so are known locally as the Hong Yi (Red Yi). There are several different groups known as the Red Yi, so to avoid confusion, their self-name, Naisu, is used in Operation China.
During the past 2,000 years the various branches of the Yi have migrated far across southern China. At one time they were spread deep into Guizhou before most of them were driven back into Yunnan during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Naisu and other tribes were practically independent until the nineteenth century. The Chinese brought the region back under their control after successful military campaigns were launched against the Yi in Zhaotong and Weining.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Naisu have many folktales which they hand down from generation to generation. They say that in the past their community life revolved around a sacred azalea tree which was in the center of their village. The tree was huge and had a very wide trunk. Before men went out to find a wife, they would pray at the base of the tree to secure success. For many generations the Naisu numbered only 99 families and could not seem to grow any larger. The people went to a bimo (shaman) and sought his advice. He told them to cut the tree down. All the Naisu men gathered their axes and began to chop the tree. The trunk bled profusely. As it was about to fall, two white cranes flew out of the tree's branches and left the village. As soon as the sacred tree had fallen the Naisu started dying and the men had no more success at capturing brides. They went to another bimo who told them they were foolish to have chopped down the tree because the tree itself was the 100th family. The people were devastated at what they had done and migrated away from the area. Every year in the third lunar month the Naisu come together to celebrate the Flower Festival in remembrance of the tree, and to worship the Mountain gods.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Naisu are animists. They have an ancient system of worshiping the spirits of the mountains, trees, and rivers.
There are Naisu Christians in northern Yunnan. They were the first to hear the gospel from Lipo believers who had been converted by foreign missionaries in the early 1900s. The Eastern Lipo church was taught to take responsibility for winning other ethnic groups to Christ. They traveled extensively throughout the region sharing the gospel by song and dance. Many people came to Christ because of supernatural healing of the sick. Today Wuding has been saturated with the gospel. There are some believers in all the people groups. A-Hmao believers in Lufeng have reached out to the Naisu, resulting in several believers in Gaofeng District.


What Are Their Needs?

Naisu Christians need to put all their faith in the blood of Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray for the gospel to spread far and wide among the Naisu people.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to raise up and send out hundreds of Naisu Christ followers to those who have not heard the gospel in Yunnan Province.
Pray for the Naisu Christians to shine as bright lights among those who lack the hope of Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Naisu in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Naisu
People Name in Country Naisu
Pronunciation Nai-soo
Alternate Names Hong Yi; Hongee; Luowu; Nisu; Red Yi
Population this Country 64,000
Population all Countries 64,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 18618
ROP3 Code 114238
ROP25 Code 305814
ROP25 Name Naisu
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 Almost 50,000 Naisu live at the juncture of four counties - Lufeng, Yuanmou, Wuding, and Mouding - in northern Yunnan Province. The Naisu live in isolated mountain villages.   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 Almost 50,000 Naisu live at the juncture of four counties - Lufeng, Yuanmou, Wuding, and Mouding - in northern Yunnan Province. The Naisu live in isolated mountain villages..   Source:  Operation China, 2000

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 4.07 %)
5.00 %
Ethnic Religions
92.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
3.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Yi, Wuding-Luquan (64,000 speakers)
Language Code ywq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Yi, Wuding-Luquan (64,000 speakers)
Language Code ywq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Yi, Wuding-Luquan

Primary Language:  Yi, Wuding-Luquan

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1923)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1948)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2016)
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 Yi, Wuding-Luquan Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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