Gaisu, Western March 20

Location: About 1,000 Western Gaisu Luoluopo people. live in a few ethnically mixed villages Some of them within the northeastern part of Yongde migrated farther County in western Province. into present-day The Western Gaisu do not live far Yongde County. away from the -Myanmar border, Judging by this oral although they are not reported to live history, the Western outside of China. There may be one Gaisu may have small group in Myanmar who are originally been Han related to one of the Yi groups in soldiers who China, but this remains to be married Yi women confirmed. and gradually, over the course of many Identity: The Western Gaisu, who are centuries, evolved also known as Luoren, are not closely into a distinct related to the Southern Gaisu people ethnic group of their of Kaiyuan in Honghe Prefecture. own. These two groups, despite sharing the same autonym, live a long distance Customs: Western apart, have different histories and Gaisu culture customs, and speak completely strongly mirrors that distinct languages. Both the Southern of their Han Gaisu and the Western Gaisu have Chinese neighbors. been officially included under the Yi Although they once nationality by the Chinese authorities. observed their own festivals and

Language: The Western Gaisu ceremonies, and Dwayne Graybill language is on the verge of extinction. the women proudly wore their own of all those family members who have It is reportedly only spoken today by a unique style of traditional dress, gone before them. few elderly people and is not being these have all been lost in the last taught to children.1 For now, Western several decades as the Western Gaisu Christianity: Yongde County has Gaisu is classified as a Western Yi have rapidly slid toward complete historically received almost no gospel language within the Tibeto-Burman ethnic, cultural, and linguistic witness. There are a number of Lahu family. assimilation. and Wa Christians farther south of Yongde, but few people in the History: The history of the Western Religion: The Western Gaisu worship immediate area, and no known Gaisu is very distinct from that of their ancestors. Rituals are held Western Gaisu, have ever placed their other Yi groups in China. They claim during which each family cleans off its trust in Jesus Christ. Now that the to have originated in Jiangxi Province ancestral altar and spends one or two Western Gaisu language has all but on China’s east coast long ago. They days making sacrifices, praying, and become extinct, this group could be traveled (probably as soldiers) into burning incense to their forefathers. best reached by the use of the Yunnan through Chuxiong, where many The Western Gaisu believe they are Chinese Scriptures and other of them blended with today’s Central responsible for the spiritual well-being evangelistic tools.

Overview of the Language: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Burmese-Lolo, Status of Evangelization •Dali Western Gaisu Lolo, Northern Lolo, Yi, 98% YUNNAN • Countries: China Western Yi •Yunxian Dialects: 0 •Wanding Pronunciation: “Gai-soo” •Yongde Religion: • •Mojiang Other Names: Luoren Ancestor Worship, Animism Population Source: MYANMAR •Ximeng 1,000 (1999 J. Pelkey); Christians: None known Scale 2% 0% 0 KM 160 Out of a total Yi population of Scripture: None 6,572,173 (1990 census) Population in China: Jesus film: None A BC Location: W Yunnan: A = Have never heard the gospel 1,000 (1999) Northeastern Yongde County Gospel Recordings: None 1,020 (2000) B = Were evangelized but did not Christian Broadcasting: None become Christians 1,280 (2010) Status: Officially included under Yi ROPAL code: None C = Are adherents to any form of Location: Yunnan Christianity Religion: Ancestor Worship Christians: None Known

142 GAISU, WESTERN