Zaiwa People

The Zaiwa are the largest subgroup of the official Jingpo nationality in China. The Zaiwa, who are called Xiaoshan, meaning “small mountain” by the Chinese, have a fearsome reputation. In 1911 James Fraser described the Zaiwa as “the wildest people around here by a long way. Inveterate robbers, their hand is against every man and every man’s hand is against them. Dirty, unkempt, ignorant, everybody despises them. They are savages only and not cannibals.”

Affinity Group: Asian Pacific Rim Peoples

Affinity Bloc: Tibetan / Himalayan Peoples

People Cluster: Miri-Kachin

Language: Zaiwa – (atb)

Alternate Name(s): Atsi, Szi, Atsi-Maru

Primary Religion: Ethnoreligion

Country: Myanmar

Also found in: China

Population: 30,000

Global Population: 168,000

Progress of the Gospel: No Longer Unreached

Global Status of Evangelical Christianity: 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical

Overview: The Zaiwa of Myanmar, numbering 30,000, are No Longer Unreached. They are part of the Miri-Kachin people cluster within the Tibetan / Himalayan Peoples affinity bloc. Globally, this group totals 168,000 in 2 countries. Their primary language is Zaiwa. The primary religion practiced by the Zaiwa is ethnoreligion. Ethnoreligion is deeply rooted in a people’s ethnic identity and conversion essentially equates to cultural assimilation.

Bible Translations: Available

Jesus Film: Available

Gospel Recordings: Available

Radio Broadcast: Not Available

Distribution
There are more than 70,000 Zaiwa speakers in Yunnan, China, including in:

Bangwa (邦瓦), Longchuan County, Dehong Prefecture
Zhanxi (盏西), Yingjiang County, Dehong Prefecture
Xishan (西山), Mangshi, Dehong Prefecture
The Ethnologue lists Bengwa, Longzhun and Tingzhu as dialects.
In Myanmar, the Sadon (Sadung) dialect is the standard variety.