Luoxiang Iu Mien in China

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

Introduction / History

The Luoxiang Iu Mien are part of the Yao nationality in China. The Chinese call them Pan Yao, meaning "Yao who worship Pan." The other Yao groups in Jinxiu County are the Kiong Nai, Lakkia, Ao Biao, and Kim Mun.

The Iu Mien and Kim Mun were the last two groups to migrate into the Dayao Mountains. They found the best land was already taken by the Ao Biao and the Lakkia. The Iu Mien struggled in extremely harsh conditions for many years, were forbidden to own land, and forced to live in bamboo sheds while rendering manual labor to the original inhabitants. Another source states the Iu Mien "came to the Dayaoshan Mountains rather late and found no space for settlement in the wooded hills or river valleys suitable for farming. So they had to live in scattered mountain villages at a high altitude. Earlier, they did not even have a fixed place to live in and, like nomadic tribes, roamed from one mountain to another. They are, therefore, also known as the Guoshan Yao (the Yao who keep crossing mountains)."


What Are Their Lives Like?

Despite their extreme poverty, the dress of the Luoxiang Iu Mien is elaborate. Both men and women wear large turbans. The greatest festival for the Iu Mien is the annual Pan Hu Festival, dedicated to the legendary ancestor of the Iu Mien. The Changgu (Long Drum) Dance is the most famous dance of the festival. "The drums used in this dance are shaped like an egg-timer, and their ends are covered with goat's hide. Before the performance, the drums are smeared with yellow mud, presumably to alter the pitch."


What Are Their Beliefs?

Numerous stories abound regarding the heroic exploits of Pan Hu, who is worshiped by the Iu Mien as a spiritual savior.

The first known penetration of the gospel among the Luoxiang Iu Mien occurred in 1996. A Hong Kong-based ministry won approximately 30 Ao Biao and Iu Mien in Jinxiu County to Christ.


What Are Their Needs?

Without the guidance of Christ, these people will be lost in this life and the life to come. They need someone to go to them as Christ-bearers.


Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so they can understand and respond to Christ.

Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.

Pray that the Luoxiang Iu Mien people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Iu Mien, Luoxiang in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Iu Mien, Luoxiang
People Name in Country Iu Mien, Luoxiang
Natural Name Luoxiang Iu Mien
Pronunciation Luoh-sheung Yoo-Mee-en
Alternate Names Guoshan Yao; Mien, Luoxiang; Pan Yao
Population this Country 5,000
Population all Countries 5,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18506
ROP3 Code 114118
ROP25 Code 300794
ROP25 Name Yao (Iu Mien)
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 3,900 Luoxiang Iu Mien people live in the Dayaoshan (Big Yao Mountains) of the Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County within the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. Jinxiu is one of the most fascinating areas in all of China for anthropologists and linguists. Five distinct Yao subgroups, each speaking a different language, live in a small area.   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 3,900 Luoxiang Iu Mien people live in the Dayaoshan (Big Yao Mountains) of the Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County within the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. Jinxiu is one of the most fascinating areas in all of China for anthropologists and linguists. Five distinct Yao subgroups, each speaking a different language, live in a small area..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.39 %)
0.50 %
Ethnic Religions
95.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
4.50 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Iu Mien (5,000 speakers)
Language Code ium   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Iu Mien (5,000 speakers)
Language Code ium   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Iu Mien
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.



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