Day 17: The Naxi People

Who are the Naxi?
Upon entering a Naxi village, you might notice the wooden fish hanging from the ridge tips of the roofs. These good-luck charms are just one of the interesting practices that make the Naxi of Yunnan Province such a fascinating minority group. The Naxi are a traditionally matriarchal society, where the women inherit the property and are allowed to freely choose who they will marry.

The religious history of the Naxi is one of transition and change. Originally polytheistic, some Naxi converted to Lamaism when it was introduced to their culture in the 14 th century. Many more adhered to the Dongba religion, which was a mixture of Lamaism, Buddhism, and Taoism. A small Naxi Christian church was operating in the first half of the 20 th century, but it disappeared as a result of persecution from the Communist government. Today most Naxi, especially the young, claim no religion.

Thanks to the faithfulness of Christian workers to distribute Christian literature and cassette tapes among the Naxi in the 1990's, there are now dozens of known believers among this small people group of 300,000.

Points of Prayer:
1. For the encouragement and strengthening of the few Naxi Christians. Ask God to provide Bible-based instruction and evangelistic training for them.

2. For the Lord to send many more Christian workers to share Christ with the Naxi, who are quickly losing their ethnic identity, before their hearts are captivated by materialism and greed.

3. That every unbeliever among the Naxi will have the chance to hear that Jesus died so that they might live.