Bouyei February 12

stake during the Nanlang Rebellion in 1797. The horrific persecution forced many Bouyei to flee into •Lupanshui • Huidong • . • •Kunming Customs: When a Bouyei Scale woman is in the process of 0 KM 160 Guangnan • giving birth, a tree branch is Population in : placed across the door to 2,545,059 (1990) 3,176,200 (2000) prevent intruders from 3,963,900 (2010) entering. An altar to the Location: spirits is erected to ensure Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan Religion: Polytheism the delivery goes smoothly. Christians: 5,000 After the birth, the placenta is buried under the bed.10 Overview of the Bouyei Religion: The Bouyei are Countries: China, Vietnam polytheists. They also Pronunciation: “Boo-yee” Other Names: Buyi, Pu-i, Po-ai, practice an ancient form of Pui, Puyi, Bo-i, Buzhong, Buman, exorcism called nuo. “A Buyayi, Chung-chia, Zhongjia, Bui, family will hire a Buyui, Pu-Jui, Pujai, Puyoi, Shuihu, Quinjiang, Dioi, Kui, Kuei shaman… to cast out Population Source: demons of illness or bad 2,545,059 (1990 census); Paul Hattaway fortune. Ceremonies include 2,122,389 (1982 census); 1,348,055 (1964 census); Location: The Bouyei are unflattering terms: “Crafty, climbing knife ladders, 1,420 in Vietnam (1991) the tenth largest of China’s lying, and dishonest… every walking on fire or glass, and Location: S & SW Guizhou: minorities, numbering Bouyei is [reputed to be] a other activities to On the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau: Qiannan and Qianxinan Bouyei- approximately three million thief, and from what we demonstrate the power of Miao prefectures; 11 people. In Vietnam, 38,000 know of them we should not the spirits.” E Yunnan: Luoping, Fuyuan, and members of the Giay deny the charge.”6 Shizhong counties; S Sichuan: Ningnan and Huidong minority and 1,420 in the Christianity: Catholic counties Bo Y minority speak the Language: Bouyei — which missionaries have worked Status: same language as the has eight tones — is a among the Bouyei for 200 An official minority of China Bouyei in China.1 The Bouyei Northern Tai language, years. Many were martyred Language: Daic, Tai, Northern Tai Dialects (3): inhabit the rolling hills in the similar (and in some places for their witness. The CIM Qiannan, Qianzhong, Qianxi southern part of Guizhou identical) to Northern missionary J. F. Braumton Literacy: 46% Province.2 Bouyei villages Zhuang. There are three arrived in Guiyang in 1877. Religion: Polytheism, Animism, are often located near Bouyei dialects in China, A mission station was Buddhism, Christianity Christians: 5,000 streams and rivers. although as many as 40 opened in Dushan in 1895, 16 but “the time of the Scripture: Portions 1904 dialects have been Jesus film: None Identity: It appears that the incorrectly reported in the missionaries was entirely Gospel Recordings: official division between the past.7 In 1995 the Chinese given up to work among the Bouyei: Guizhou #04832 Bouyei and Zhuang in China government decided to Chinese.”12 A recent Christian Broadcasting: None is defined by provincial discontinue education in the estimate places the number ROPAL code: PCC00 of Bouyei Christians at borders. The Northern Tai- Bouyei language, and now Status of Evangelization 24,000,13 but missionaries speaking groups in Guangxi all schooling is conducted in 77% are labeled Zhuang, and Chinese.8 Only 12% of the among the Bouyei claim those in Guizhou, Bouyei.3 Bouyei have attended high there to be no more than Until one generation ago, school — one of the lowest 5,000.14 In 1985 there were the Bouyei were more rates among the 55 official nine Catholic churches in 22% 9 the Qianxinan Prefecture.15 commonly known as the minorities in China. 1% Chungchia, a name meaning Recently, several mission “people in the middle.”4 A History: The Bouyei are one agencies have commenced A B C 1945 study of the Bouyei of the ancient peoples of church-planting efforts A = Have never heard the gospel B = Were evangelized but did not revealed they were “divided Guizhou, having inhabited among the Bouyei, but few become Christians into five distinct tribes.”5 An the province for more than converts have been won so C = Are adherents to any form of Christianity early missionary described 2,000 years. Thousands of far. the Bouyei in very Bouyei were burned at the

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