Naluo August 25 ➤

Lolo [Yi], each tribe knows only the tribes around it; GUIZHOU beyond this horizon, it •Panzhihua knows nothing. In their Yongren• •Huize •Dayao •Wuding books, the author uses the •Dali • • name of his tribe, •Chuxiong sometimes in a limited Scale • sense, if it is a particular 0 KM 160 history; sometimes in a Population in : broad sense, if the history 36,700 (1999) applies to the entire race.”2 37,600 (2000) 47,200 (2010) Location: Yunnan, Sichuan Religion: Most Naluo are Religion: Animism worshipers of spirits. Others Christians: 11,000 have embraced Christianity, though many who profess to Overview of the be Christians have retained Naluo their former animistic Countries: China rituals. In the past each Pronunciation: “Nah-luoh” Naluo village had a resident Other Names: Nalo, Gani, Alu, shaman. Dry Yi, Gan Yi, Nalu Population Source: Christianity: The first 36,700 (1999 J. Pelkey); Out of a total Yi population of Protestant missionaries 6,572,173 (1990 census) Target Ministries Target arrived in northern Yunnan Location: N Yunnan: Luquan Location: Approximately Eastern Nasu, Naisu, and in the early 1900s. (20,000), Wuding (10,300), 37,000 Naluo inhabit the the Yi varieties spoken in Australian Arthur Nicholls Dongchuan (2,500), Yuanmou (1,500), Huize (1,400), and steep mountainsides along Guizhou Province. was among the early Qujing (1,000) counties; the rivers of northern pioneers of the gospel. S Sichuan: Panzhihua area Yunnan and southern History: For centuries the Others joined him in a Status: Sichuan Provinces. The Naluo were despised as mission of love. Medical Officially included under Yi clinics were established, Language: Sino-Tibetan, majority are located in slaves and serfs of the Tibeto-Burman, Burmic, Luquan, Wuding, Nasu people. In the early and large numbers of Burmese-Lolo, Lolo, Dongchuan, and Yuanmou 1950s the slave/serf people were exposed to the Northern Lolo, Yi, Eastern Yi counties.1 Small numbers of system was abolished by gospel. Probably because of Dialects: 0 Naluo reportedly live in the Communist authorities. their history as a slave Religion: Animism, Christianity of The humble disposition of people, the Naluo were Christians: 11,000 Prefecture and parts of the Naluo helped many of eager to accept the offer of Scripture: None Qujing Prefecture. them see their need for freedom in Jesus Christ. Jesus film: None God. Many responded to the They turned to Christianity, Gospel Recordings: None Identity: Despite insisting gospel when Protestant breaking themselves free Christian Broadcasting: None on their own distinct identity, missionaries moved to their from centuries of bondage ROPAL code: None the Naluo (also called Alu or area in the early decades of to spirit worship. Thousands Gani — Dry Yi) are the twentieth century. of Eastern Lipo and Eastern Status of Evangelization considered part of the Yi Nasu also came to Christ in 58% nationality by the Chinese Customs: In the same way the Wuding and Luquan authorities. The Laka are a that numerous languages areas. Today there are an subgroup of the Naluo. The and dialects are spoken estimated 11,000 Naluo 30% main difference between the among the many branches believers. Many of them 12% two is sociohistorical. of Yi in China, they also meet in ethnically mixed have numerous distinct congregations. The Naluo Language: The Naluo speak cultures. Catholic living in Yuanmou County A B C a distinct Tibeto-Burman missionary Paul Vial have had less exposure to A = Have never heard the gospel B = Were evangelized but did not language. It cannot be explained, “The Lolo [Yi] do the gospel. In the past many become Christians understood by members of not have a single term that Naluo believers used the C = Are adherents to any form of other Yi groups. Naluo is can be applied to an entire Pollard New Testament in Christianity part of the Eastern Yi nation or a race of men, no the Eastern Nasu language, linguistic branch, distantly more for others than for but today most prefer to use related to Michi, Gepo, themselves.… With the the Chinese Scriptures.

384 NALUO