Shui, Yunnan October 30

Location: The 1990 national census and fables which listed a total of 7,314 Shui people “praise the living in Yunnan Province.1 More than diligence, bravery, 6,800 live in the Huangnihe District of wisdom and love of Fuyuan County, while 490 inhabit the the Shui ethnic Dahe and Long’an districts of Yiliang group and satirize County. the stupidity of the feudal rulers.”3 Identity: The Yunnan Shui have been officially included as part of the Shui History: The Shui in nationality — which numbered Yunnan are a approximately 350,000 people in the diaspora group who 1990 census — by the Chinese migrated to their authorities. However, Chinese present location at linguists Wei Ch’ing-wen and Li Fang- least 250 years Gui both state that the Shui in Yunnan ago. Today they live speak a language mutually several hundred unintelligible with the Shui in kilometers Province.2 For this reason the Yunnan (200–250 mi.) west Shui are profiled separately and are of the main body of considered a “mission-significant” Shui in central people group. It is possible that this Guizhou. During group has not always identified their lengthy themselves as Shui. The government separation the has included several small language Yunnan Shui have Paul Hattaway groups who are more closely related developed their own customs. Christianity: The Shui in Yunnan are to the Shui, such as the Mo and Rao, an unreached people group without a in the official Bouyei nationality in Customs: The Yunnan Shui have a single known Christian among them. Guizhou. The government’s festive dance called the Copper Drum Few have ever been exposed to the classifications are often based on Dance, which is greatly enjoyed by all. gospel message since they live in one cultural similarities and not on any It is performed during special of the most spiritually neglected areas proven historical, linguistic, or ethnic occasions such as the Duan Festival, of Yunnan Province. Because they kinship. celebrated each September after the speak their own language, the Yunnan harvest has been gathered. Shui will not be able to understand Language: The Shui in Yunnan speak Traditional musical instruments the Shui gospel recordings or Jesus a language from the Kam-Sui (Dong- include , lusheng, , and film presently being considered for Shui) branch of the Daic linguistic horns. translation. The Chinese language family. Most Yunnan Shui are may be the best medium for adequately bilingual in Chinese. The Religion: Most Shui in Yunnan are evangelizing the Yunnan Shui. Most Shui in Yunnan do not use the animists. Ancestor worship does not now read and write Chinese, and all rudimentary Shui script known to appear to take such a prominent but the elderly can speak the many Shui village leaders in Guizhou. place among the Yunnan Shui as it Southwestern dialect of Mandarin. The Yunnan Shui pass down stories does among the Guizhou Shui.

Status: Overview of the Status of Evangelization Yunnan Shui Officially included under Shui GUIZHOU Language: Daic, Kam-Sui 87% Countries: China Fuyuan Dialects: 0 YUNNAN • Pronunciation: “Yoo-nahn-Shway” •Kunming Religion: Animism, Polytheism, • Other Names: Ancestor Worship Yiliang Population Source: Christians: None known 13% Scale 7,314 (1990 census); Scripture: None 0% 0 KM 160 Out of a total Shui population of 345,993 (1990 census) Jesus film: None A B C Population in China: Location: E Yunnan: Huangnihe Gospel Recordings: None 7,314 (1990) District of Fuyuan County (6,824), A = Have never heard the gospel Christian Broadcasting: None B = Were evangelized but did not 9,200 (2000) and the Dahe and Long’an 11,550 (2010) ROPAL code: None become Christians districts of Yiliang County (490) C = Are adherents to any form of Location: Yunnan Christianity Religion: Animism Christians: None Known

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