When the Chinese authorities first surveyed the ethnolinguistic composition of Guizhou Province in the 1950s, they found the Youmai people group so distinct that they were unable to place them under any of the officially recognized nationalities that had been created. By the time of the 1982 census, the Youmai were still unclassified and were placed in a generic list of Undetermined Minorities. The status for this small group changed in 1985 when the Youmai were included as part of the Yao nationality. This classification has not been appreciated by the Youmai, who see themselves as a completely distinct group with no relationship to other minorities in southern China. Living in a nation where governmental decisions are not open to debate, the Youmai have little choice but to accept their bureaucratic identity. The people living near them, however, recognize them as a distinct ethnic group.
The Youmai may be related to the various Bunu people groups in Guizhou, who are culturally Yao but linguistically Hmong people. After more than a thousand years of living near the Yao, these groups have absorbed many of their customs and habits.
The Youmai observe several key festivals throughout the year, including the Zhuzhu Festival. The date set for the festival is believed to be the birthday of their foremother, Miluotuo, in the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The Huiqi Festival is held at the same time as the Autumn Festival in other parts of China. Traditional singing contests are held, and people from the countryside crowd into the village which has been chosen as the sponsor for that year. Hosts entertain guests with sumptuous food. No festival or celebration is conducted by the Youmai without copious amounts of rice wine and whiskey being served.
Spirit worship, ancestor worship, and Daoism are the three most prevalent religious beliefs among the Youmai.
Because researchers have yet to find the exact location of the Youmai in Guizhou Province, nothing is known of the status of Christianity among them. Few people groups in this part of China, however, have ever heard the gospel.
Scripture Prayers for the Youmai in China.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-07-11 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-12-04 |
People Name General | Youmai |
People Name in Country | Youmai |
Pronunciation | You-my |
Population this Country | 2,700 |
Population all Countries | 2,700 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Youmairen |
People ID | 18732 |
ROP3 Code | 114367 |
Country | China | ||
Region | Asia, Northeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 23 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | About 2,000 people belonging to the little-known Youmai ethnic group live in an unspecified part of southern Guizhou Province in southern China. Although no location for the Youmai has ever been given, the few members of the Yao nationality - under which the Youmai were included - in Guizhou Province live in a few pockets along the southeast and southern parts of the province. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Country | China |
Region | Asia, Northeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 23 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | About 2,000 people belonging to the little-known Youmai ethnic group live in an unspecified part of southern Guizhou Province in southern China. Although no location for the Youmai has ever been given, the few members of the Yao nationality - under which the Youmai were included - in Guizhou Province live in a few pockets along the southeast and southern parts of the province.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.
Primary Language | Iu Mien (2,700 speakers) |
Language Code | ium Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Iu Mien (2,700 speakers) |
Language Code | ium Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Iu Mien |
Primary Language: Iu Mien
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1932-1996) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1975-1991) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2007-2008) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Iu Mien |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Mien Bible (Lao Script) |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Mien Bible (New Roman Script) |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Mien Bible (Old Roman Script Script) |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Mien Bible (Thai Script) |
Text / Printed Matter | Online Bible text (Scripture Earth) |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
95.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
5.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
Unknown
|
Independent |
Unknown
|
Orthodox |
Unknown
|
Other Christian |
Unknown
|
Protestant |
Unknown
|
Roman Catholic |
Unknown
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 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. Read more |