Operation China

Awu, Northern January 20 ➤ example, “are widely SICHUAN diverse in their language and in their customs and •Lijiang habits… [many Yi • •Panzhihua Yongsheng languages] are mutually YUNNAN •Dayao • Dali •Wuding unintelligible and indeed •Kunming Scale more different from each 0 KM 160 other than are the various Population in China: Han Chinese dialects such 3,500 (1999) as Mandarin, Min, and 3,590 (2000) 1 4,500 (2010) Cantonese.” Location: Yunnan Religion: Polytheism History: The Northern Awu Christians: None Known have lived in their remote part of Yunnan Province for Overview of the many centuries. They may Northern Awu have been former slaves of Countries: China the Xiaoliangshan Nosu, Pronunciation: “Ah-woo” who dominated the lives of Other Names: people in the area until Awupu, Awuzhe, Xiangtan slave trade was finally Population Source: abolished in the late 3,500 (1999 J. Pelkey); Out of a total Yi population of 1950s. 6,572,173 (1990 census) Location: Customs: Numerous N Yunnan: Yongsheng County festivals are celebrated by Status: the Yi peoples of northern Officially included under Yi Yunnan. The Northern Awu Language: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Burmese-Lolo, participate in many of Lolo, Northern Lolo, Yi, them, including the Northern Yi Paul Hattaway Garment Competition which Dialects: 0 Location: Numbering just 3,500 people, the involves the women’s embroidery skills. All Religion: Polytheism, Animism, Northern Awu inhabit the Peiyuan, Shuiping, the women are dressed in their finest Ancestor Worship and Yongle communities within the Da’an attire, which causes the hillsides to come Christians: None known District of Yongsheng County in northern alive with color. Later, there is singing and Scripture: None Yunnan Province. Yongsheng is the only dancing, and special competitions are held. Jesus film: None area known to be inhabited by the Northern This festival affords young people a chance Gospel Recordings: None Awu. to meet prospective partners. It also allows Christian Broadcasting: None older participants a time to relax from their ROPAL code: None Identity: Although the Northern Awu share work and to catch up with their friends and the same autonym as the Southeastern relatives from other areas. Status of Evangelization Awu, the two groups speak vastly differing 96% languages and live separated by more than Religion: The Northern Awu believe in a 200 miles of rugged mountains. The host of spirits and deities which must be Northern Awu have been officially included appeased in order to bring peace and under the Yi nationality by the Chinese prosperity to their communities. They also government, even though they possess believe the human soul lives on after death 4% 0% their own customs, ethnicity, and language. and travels back to the abode of ancestors. A B C Language: The Northern Awu are so named Christianity: Little Christian activity has A = Have never heard the gospel because they speak a language from the ever taken place in Yongsheng County. The B = Were evangelized but did not become Christians Northern Yi branch of the Tibeto-Burman remote mountains and former threat of C = Are adherents to any form of language family. It is related to other slavery combined to keep evangelists and Christianity Northern Yi varieties in the area such as missionaries away from the area. As a Xiaoliangshan Nosu, Talu, Liwu, Tagu, and result, the Northern Awu are an unreached Naza. Many people are surprised to learn of and unevangelized people group with no the great linguistic diversity found among access to the gospel and no contact with minority peoples in southern China. Even Christians. the various groups of the Yi nationality, for 48 AWU, NORTHERN.

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