Xiao Hei Neisu in China

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

Introduction / History

The Chinese call this group Xiao Hei Yi, meaning "small black Yi." They call themselves Neisu. The Chinese include the Xiao Hei Neisu as part of the official Yi nationality, a collection of 120 distinct ethnolinguistic groups. One scholar notes that there is "nothing in common between different Yi groups."

The Xiao Hei Neisu "were on the second tier of an ancient social stratum which evidently spanned the breadth of east-central Yunnan. Above them were the Greater [Da Hei] Neisu and below them were two slave classes of Gepo. Although the actual practice of slavery was lost long before Liberation, the Lesser [Xiao Hei] Neisu still retain a sense of distinct identity from the Greater Neisu and the Gepo, including a different dialect and different costume. In certain regions such as the common borders of Xiyi, Xinshao, and Wushan districts of Mile County, the Greater and Lesser Neisu, along with the Gepo can still be found living in very close proximity, suggesting the former nature of their distribution."


What Are Their Lives Like?

Many Yi groups believe the progenitor of their people group was Ou-lang and that he invented hunting and agriculture. Today, many villages hold an annual ceremony to worship Oulang. It affords the people a chance to socialize, trade, and catch up with relatives who live in different areas.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Xiao Hei Neisu are polytheists. In their worldview, the earth is controlled by good and bad spirits. They offer regular sacrifices of sheep to ensure that they do not cause offense to the spirits. French missionary Crabouillet in 1873 found the Yi often hired shamans to chase evil spirits away from their villages by chanting and banging drums. The shamans determined the future by studying the organs of sacrificed sheep.

A few Xiao Hei Neisu became Christians in 1998 after Chinese Christians were mobilized to take the gospel to them. Most of the members of this group, however, have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. The Christian ministry global recordings network (GRN) produced a tape in the Xiao Hei Neisu language in 1998. This audio recording will prove greatly beneficial in reaching the Xiao Hei Neisu since most of them are illiterate.


What Are Their Needs?

The Xiao Hei Neisu people need the blessing of having a relationship with the Lord of lords. As it stands, few will ever hear his voice calling them out of darkness.


Prayer Points

Pray for a breakthrough in this animistic, polytheistic, and shamanistic people group which once had believers in the 1880s.
Pray for Christian believers to shine wherever there is spiritual darkness.
Pray the Xiao Hei Neisu will question belief in multiple gods and follow the true Dao (Way) of Jesus.
Pray for audio evangelism and discipleship among the Xiao Hei Neisu and that believers will evangelize their neighbors.


Scripture Prayers for the Neisu, Xiao Hei in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Neisu, Xiao Hei
People Name in Country Neisu, Xiao Hei
Natural Name Xiao Hei Neisu
Pronunciation Shaow-Hay Nee-soo
Alternate Names Black Yi; Er Yi; Lesser Neisu; Nasu; Niesupo; Nisu; Small Black Yi; Wopu; Xiaoheiyi
Population this Country 9,900
Population all Countries 9,900
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18634
ROP3 Code 114255
ROP25 Code 305981
ROP25 Name Neisu
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 7,500 Xiao Hei Neisu people live in the mountains of central Yunnan Province. They are closely related to, yet distinct from, the Wopu ethnic group. The Xiao Hei Neisu are distributed throughout Malong (2,600), Mile (2,500), Shizong (2,000), and Luliang (300) counties in eastern Yunnan Province.   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 7,500 Xiao Hei Neisu people live in the mountains of central Yunnan Province. They are closely related to, yet distinct from, the Wopu ethnic group. The Xiao Hei Neisu are distributed throughout Malong (2,600), Mile (2,500), Shizong (2,000), and Luliang (300) counties in eastern Yunnan Province..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.13 %)
0.15 %
Ethnic Religions
95.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
4.85 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nasu, Wusa (9,900 speakers)
Language Code yig   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nasu, Wusa (9,900 speakers)
Language Code yig   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nasu, Wusa

Primary Language:  Nasu, Wusa

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2018)
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
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024