Iu Mien, Luoxiang May 14

Location: Approximately 3,900 Luoxiang Iu History: The Iu Mien and Kim Mun were the Mien people live in the Dayaoshan (Big Yao last two groups to migrate into the Dayao Mountains) of the Jinxiu Yao Autonomous Mountains. They found the best land was Libo • •Guilin County within the Zhuang already taken by the Ao Biao and the • Rongshui Autonomous Region in southern . Lakkia. The Iu Mien struggled in extremely Liuzhou • •Jinxiu Jinxiu is one of the most fascinating areas harsh conditions for many years, were GUANGXI Scale in all of China for anthropologists and forbidden to own land, and forced to live in 0 KM 160 linguists. Five distinct Yao subgroups, each bamboo sheds while rendering manual 2 Population in China: speaking a different language, live in a labor to the original inhabitants. Another 3,000 (1990) small area. source states the Iu Mien “came to the 3,870 (2000) 4,990 (2010) Dayaoshan Mountains rather late and found Location: Guangxi Identity: The Luoxiang Iu Mien are part of no space for settlement in the wooded hills Religion: Polytheism the Yao nationality in China. The Chinese or river valleys suitable for farming. So they Christians: 15 call them Pan Yao, meaning “Yao who had to live in scattered mountain villages at worship Pan.” The other Yao groups in a high altitude. Earlier, they did not even Jinxiu County are the Kiong Nai, Lakkia, Ao have a fixed place to live in and, like Overview of the Biao, and Kim Mun. nomadic tribes, roamed from one mountain Luoxiang Iu Mien to another. They are, Countries: China therefore, also known Pronunciation: as the Guoshan Yao “Luoh-sheung-Yoo-Mee-en” (the Yao who keep Other Names: Pan Yao, Guoshan Yao crossing 3 Population Source: 3,000 mountains).” (1995 Wang Fushi – 1990 figure); Out of a total Yao population of Customs: Despite 2,134,013 (1990 census) their extreme poverty, Location: Guangxi: Jinxiu Yao the dress of the Status: Luoxiang Iu Mien is Officially included under Yao elaborate. Both men Language: and women wear large Hmong-Mien, Mienic, Mian-Jin turbans. The greatest Dialects: 0 festival for the Iu Mien Religion: Polytheism, Animism, is the annual Pan Hu Ancestor Worship, Daoism, Christianity Festival, dedicated to Christians: 15 the legendary Scripture: None ancestor of the Iu Jesus film: None Mien. The Changgu Gospel Recordings: None (Long Drum) Dance is Christian Broadcasting: None the most famous ROPAL code: None dance of the festival. Paul Hattaway “The drums used in Status of Evangelization this dance are shaped like an egg-timer, and 84% their ends are covered with goat’s hide. Language: Chinese linguists have recently Before the performance, the drums are 15% determined the in Jinxiu smeared with yellow mud, presumably to 1% to be a distinct language from all other Iu alter the pitch.”4 Mien varieties in China. They labeled it Iu A B C Mien, Luoxiang.1 There are at least four Religion: Numerous stories abound A = Have never heard the gospel B = Were evangelized but did not main Iu Mien languages in China. It is not regarding the heroic exploits of Pan Hu, become Christians surprising that Luoxiang Iu Mien language is who is worshiped by the Iu Mien as a C = Are adherents to any form of Christianity different, as they have been influenced by spiritual savior. centuries of contact with their neighbors who speak unique languages. The Iu Mien Christianity: The first known penetration of live very near the Lakkia village of Liuxiang the gospel among the Luoxiang Iu Mien and have probably absorbed parts of their occurred in 1996. A Hong Kong-based language. The Lakkia speak a Tai language ministry won approximately 30 Ao Biao and not even related to the Yao . Iu Mien in Jinxiu County to Christ.

224 IU MIEN, LUOXIANG