Baihong January 28 Location: The Baihong “have a larger where the sun population” among the various Hani rises.”7 The subgroups in China.1 The Baihong live importance of over a widespread area between preceding Mojiang and Yuanjiang counties in generations of southern Yunnan Province. Almost Baihong is 200,000 Baihong live in villages that recognized by their are “situated halfway up the saying, “With a mountain, shrouded by clouds and strand of hair from mists. Their houses are made of each ancestor, one earthen walls and thatched roofs would have to hold sloping down on four sides.”2 nine handfuls of hair.”8 Identity: The Baihong are one of many people groups combined by the Customs: One government to form the official Hani visitor to the nationality in China. The Baihong were Baihong noted, “The formerly named Mahei — which is the dress of the women name they are still listed under in here is quite an most mission publications today.3 unusual style. I saw a Baihong woman Language: Baihong is one of at least wearing short, tight Dwayne Graybill five different Hani languages in pants and attached to her back was a beliefs among the Baihong. For Mojiang (Ink River) County alone.4 One piece of blue cloth about one foot example, they are careful not to strike visitor to the region “learned that long decorated with silver balls. As their hands together while washing there were around 14 different Hani she moved, the cloth waved in the air, because they do not want to offend dialect groups in just one area.”5 looking, when seen from a distance, the spirit of the water. Most of these dialects are mutually for all the world like a tiny funny tail.”9 unintelligible. Linguist David Bradley They call this “armor.” If armor is not Christianity: Some Baihong have places the Baihong language in the worn by a Baihong woman she is heard the gospel from the neighboring Hao-Bai branch of the Tibeto-Burman considered indecent. Kado and Biyo, whose languages are language family and notes that fewer related to the Baihong. As a result, than 80,000 Baihong are still able to Religion: Because all Baihong youth there are some Baihong Christians speak their language.6 have been educated in atheistic today. Other Baihong who live in schools, most are not religious. remote communities have yet to be History: The Baihong belong to a large Traditionally, however, the Baihong visited by evangelists. The believers historical group who are thought to were animists. They believe spirits among the Baihong have at times have migrated from the Tibetan dwell in trees, water, mountains, and encountered severe persecution from Plateau about 2,500 years ago. the sky. They believe that some of the local authorities, who are eager to Legend says the ancestors of the these spirits guard their villages, while arrest the spread of Christianity in Baihong, at that time numbering others are bad spirits that bring their areas. Gospel recordings were 7,000 households, “once lived on a disease and suffering. This has led to recently produced in the Baihong vast fertile plain away in the east a complex set of superstitions and language for the first time. Language: Sino-Tibetan, Overview of the Status of Evangelization •Mile Baihong Tibeto-Burman, Burmese-Lolo, YUNNAN Southern Lolo, Akha, Hao-Bai 62% Countries: China Dialects (3): Mahei, Eshan, Woni •Zhenyuan Pronunciation: “Bai-hong” •Mojiang Religion: Animism, Polytheism, 35% •Yuanyang •Yuanjiang Other Names: Mahei, Mahe, Christianity, No Religion •Pu’er Mabe, Pai-hung, Buku, Boo Koo Christians: 5,000 VIETNAM 3% Scale LAOS Population Source: 0 KM 80 Scripture: None 150,000 (1987 AMO); Out of a total Hani population of Jesus film: None A B C Population in China: 1,253,952 (1990 census) Gospel Recordings: A = Have never heard the gospel 150,000 (1987) Location: S Yunnan: Between Hani: Bukong #04853 B = Were evangelized but did not 194,600 (2000) Mojiang County in Honghe Christian Broadcasting: None become Christians 239,200 (2010) C = Are adherents to any form of Prefecture and Yuanjiang County ROPAL code: HOW01 (Baihong); Location: Yunnan Christianity in Yuxi Prefecture MJA00 (Mahei) Religion: Animism Status: Christians: 5,000 Officially included under Hani 62 BAIHONG.