Pumi,Pumi, NorthernNorthern A widespread, isolated section of south- per cent lexical similarity with Southern west Sichuan Province in China is home Pumi, which is spoken in Yunnan Province. to approximately 40,000 Northern Pumi The Southern Pumi have not been included people. Most are located in and around in this book because they are primarily Sichuan Muli County, described as ‘a rich posses- animists and polytheists. Few are adherents sion. The rivers, especially the Litang, of Buddhism. carry gold and produce a considerable Yunnan A Northern Pumi king presided over the Pumi Northern 1 revenue.’ Northern Pumi is also spoken former Buddhist monastery town of Muli Population: in Zuosuo and Yousuo districts of Yanyuan until the 1950s. The king once ‘held sway 39,000 (2000) County and in the Sanyanlong and Dabao over a territory of 9,000 square miles—an 48,100 (2010) 2 59,200 (2020) districts of Jiulong County. Seven thousand area slightly larger than Massachusetts’.5 Northern Pumi live in the Yongning District Countries: China The rulers of Muli ‘are said to be of Buddhism: Tibetan of Ninglang County in northern Yunnan Manchu origin. Christians: none known Province. They were given In the past, the the sovereignty Northern Pumi of the kingdom were com- in perpetuity in monly known recognition of as Xifan, a valorous services Overview of the derogatory rendered to Northern Pumi Chinese name Yungcheng, the Other Names: Xifan, Hsifan, meaning famous Manchu Northern Pumi, Chrame, ‘barbarians of emperor, who Ch’rame, Tshomi, Sichuan Pumi the west’—a ascended the Population Sources: name applied throne in 1723.’6 30,000 in China (1987, not only to The king ruled Language Atlas of China) this group but with ‘absolute Language: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Tangut-Qiang, sometimes spiritual and Qiangic also used for temporal sway’7 Dialects: 4 (Tuoqi, Sanyanlong, all Tibetans. over his subjects. Taoba, Zuosuo) Older sources ‘The villagers Professing Buddhists: 100% listed them as occupy wooden Practising Buddhists: 95% the Chrame shanties scattered Christians: 0% people, a over the hillsides Scripture: none name also below the town. Jesus fi lm: none used in Opera- They are very Gospel Recordings: none 3 tion China. China Advocate poor, and live in Christian Broadcasting: none Linguistic constant fear of ROPAL code: PMI sources, however, consistently label this the lama king and his parasitic satellites.’8 group as the Northern Pumi. The Chinese The king of Muli was fond of feeding visitors government does not recognize the ‘dried legs of mutton and yak cheese . Northern Pumi as a distinct ethnic minority, propelled by squirming maggots the size of but they have simply included those living a man’s thumb’. Rock’s group gave theirs to in Sichuan as part of the Tibetan nationality beggars, who ‘fought for it like tigers’.9 Status of Evangelization based on their culture and religion. All Northern Pumi adhere to Tibetan Bud- Consequently, the Northern Pumi in dhism. Their religion is a major part of their 94% Sichuan almost always identify themselves ethnic and cultural identity. They are one as Tibetans when speaking with visitors, of the most unreached people groups in even though they have a separate language China, with no known Northern Pumi church and history from their Tibetan neighbours.4 or Christian believer. In recent years a 6% The 7,000 Northern Pumi in northern small number of faith-fi lled Christians have 0% Yunnan Province have been counted as part ventured into Muli and become advocates A B C of the Pumi nationality. for the Northern Pumi people, although A = Have never heard the gospel B = Have heard the gospel but have The Northern Pumi language—which has there are still no known believers among not become Christians C = Are adherents to some form of three tones and fi ve dialects—shares 60 this precious and unique group today. Christianity 223 PUMI, NORTHERN, 10–11 September.