Gelao in China

People Name:	Gelao
Country:	China
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	582,000
World Population:	582,000
Primary Language:	Chinese, Mandarin
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	4.20 %
Evangelicals:	2.60 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Miao / Hmong
Affinity Bloc:	Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Gelao, despite their considerable size, are one of the least known of China's official ethnic minorities. Gelao means "human beings" as well as "bamboo." Today, most Gelao are culturally indistinguishable from the Chinese. Even back in 1911 one observer wrote, "The Gelao are now nearly extinct; many of them have married into Bouyei and [Chuanlan and Chuanqing] families."
The Gelao are thought to be descended from the ancient Liao people who established the Yelang Kingdom in Guizhou about 2,000 years ago. A folk tale tells how the king of Yelang was born from bamboo, so the whole group came to be called Bamboo. The Gelao are considered the original inhabitants of each region where they live. "Where the Miao and Gelao occupy the same district, the Miao allow that the Gelao were there before."

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Gelao primarily grow maize, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, millet, tobacco and tea. "In the past, the Gelao practiced initiation rites for their young men, including tooth breaking and hair-cutting rituals. The Gelao were once head-hunters and cannibals." Among the Yaya (Tooth) Gelao, the custom of breaking the front tooth of a bride was observed until recently.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gelao are primarily ancestor worshipers. "They also worship the gods of giant trees, of mountains, of sky and earth, cows, etc. They have no idols, temples or monasteries, and no systematic religious creeds or organization. But they have a number of... superstitions and taboos, which affect every aspect of their lives."
Because it is difficult to convey the Gelao as a cohesive people group with a common identity, it is also difficult to gauge the status of Christianity among them. The Gelao were reached with the gospel by French Catholic missionaries in the late 1800s, but little fruit from that effort remains.

What Are Their Needs?

The Gelao church needs to be revolutionized by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Points

Pray for a Holy Spirit led revival among the Gelao people that will spread throughout Hainan Island.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out Gelao Christians to take Christ to the lost in Yunnan Province.
Pray for Gelao Christ followers to be salt and light to their unsaved neighbors.