The self-name of this people group is Lagou, although few people apart from the members of the group know it. The Han Chinese call them Hong Yi (Red Yi). The Lagou were former slaves of the Nasu. In the 1950s they were liberated by the Communist authorities.
Weining County in Guizhou has long been viewed as a strategic location by military leaders. To the dismay of the Chinese, however, Weining was inhabited by a large number of Yi people who steadfastly resisted Chinese rule, giving rise to many armed conflicts. In 1381 Weining was selected by Fu Youde, "the general who conquered the south," as a defense post. A garrison of 5,600 Imperial troops was stationed there. Later, when the Manchus assumed rule of China (1644), they launched a massive campaign against the Yi of Zhaotong and Weining. For the first time the area was fully brought under Chinese control. It was at this time that many Yi people left the area, crossed the Yangtze River, and fled into the Daliangshan Mountains in southern Sichuan.
Despite their history of oppression, the Lagou today are a very colorful and fun-loving people. One visitor to Majie in Guizhou commented: "The Yi people of Majie are Red Yi [Lagou]; in the old days, they would have been slaves of the Black Yi [Nasu], in other words, at the very bottom rung of the social ladder. The Red Yi of today's world have gained a reputation for their expertise in basketry, as well as in the manufacture of other bamboo articles, so that they are now often referred to jokingly as 'that tribe of bamboo craftsmen'. I was much taken by the blue dress of their womenfolk with collar, shoulders, front opening and sleeves all trimmed with broad bands of embroidery and braiding. A villager told me that the clothing worn by Yi women around Majie is oldfashioned, reflecting the styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is rarely seen elsewhere, even within the area of Weining."
Ancestor worship and Christianity are the two main religious beliefs among the Lagou.
Before 1949 the China Inland Mission planted 16 churches among the Yi in Weining County. The Methodists also joined in the work, so that by 1950 there were 25 private Christian schools in the county. Today there are an estimated 2,000 Lagou believers in China - or approximately one-third of the population. One official publication estimates that half of all Yi in Weining County are Christians.
Scripture Prayers for the Lagou in China.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Lagou |
People Name in Country | Lagou |
Pronunciation | Lah-gaow |
Alternate Names | Hong Yi; Lagoupu; Red Yi |
Population this Country | 7,900 |
Population all Countries | 7,900 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 6 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 18531 |
ROP3 Code | 114147 |
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 | More than 6,000 people belonging to the Lagou ethnic group live in Weining County in northwestern Guizhou Province, and in Yiliang County in northeastern Yunnan Province. Two thousand Lagou live within Yunnan Province. In Guizhou, the Lagou are concentrated near the town of Majie. 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 | More than 6,000 people belonging to the Lagou ethnic group live in Weining County in northwestern Guizhou Province, and in Yiliang County in northeastern Yunnan Province. Two thousand Lagou live within Yunnan Province. In Guizhou, the Lagou are concentrated near the town of Majie.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 35.00 %) |
35.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
64.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
1.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Nasu, Wusa (7,900 speakers) |
Language Code | yig Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Nasu, Wusa (7,900 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 © 2023 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. |