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.
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 located 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 in order 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.
Most Naisu are animists. They have an ancient system of worshiping the spirits of the mountains, trees, and rivers.
There are approximately 2,000 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 as a result 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 a number of believers in Gaofeng District.
Scripture Prayers for the Naisu in China.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
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 | 16 (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 | 16 (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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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 © 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. |