The history of the Western Gaisu is very distinct from that of other Yi groups in China. They claim to have originated in Jiangxi Province on China's east coast long ago. They traveled (probably as soldiers) into Yunnan through Chuxiong, where many of them blended with today's Central Luoluopo people. Some of them migrated farther into present-day Yongde County.
The Western Gaisu, who are also known as Luoren, are not closely related to the Southern Gaisu people of Kaiyuan in Honghe Prefecture. These two groups, despite sharing the same autonym, live a long distance apart, have different histories and customs, and speak completely distinct languages. Both the Southern Gaisu and the Western Gaisu have been officially included under the Yi nationality by the Chinese authorities.
Western Gaisu culture strongly mirrors that of their Han Chinese neighbors. Although they once observed their own festivals and ceremonies, and the women proudly wore their own unique style of traditional dress, these have all been lost in the last several decades as the Western Gaisu have rapidly slid toward complete ethnic, cultural and linguistic assimilation.
The Western Gaisu worship their ancestors. The Western Gaisu believe they are responsible for the spiritual well-being of all family members who have gone before them. They hold rituals during which each family cleans off its ancestral altar and spends one or two days making sacrifices, praying and burning incense to their forefathers.
Yongde County has historically received almost no gospel outreach. There are a number of Lahu and Wa Christians farther south of Yongde, but few people in the immediate area, and no known Western Gaisu, have ever placed their trust in Jesus Christ. Now that the Western Gaisu language has all but become extinct, this group could be best reached by the use of the Chinese Scriptures and other evangelistic tools.
As they have historically been reached with such limited outreach, the Western Gaisu need movements to be built from the ground up. Often, people who have lost their language this quickly feel a sense of instability and loss and may need some support.
Pray that God would work in the hearts of the Western Gaisu to give them a hunger to hear God's word, a solid understanding of Jesus Christ, and the determination to believe the message regardless of the cost.
Pray that God would meet the needs of Christ followers and keep them strong in the face of any persecution.
Pray for loving, anointed workers.
Pray for non-believing hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.
Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.
Scripture Prayers for the Gaisu, Western in China.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
