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A Lisu-looking church W
Architecture for China’s Lisu people Text and photos by Y. Franklin Ishida
e knock. Open!” Tree times the pastor, Li Zhi, spoke these words. Tree
times those gathered responded with the same words, each time shouting louder in their Lisu language. With this, the doors to the rebuilt Lim- ing Wujihou Gospel Church were opened and the dedication celebra- tions began. Liming, a mountain village in the
north of Lijiang in northern Yun- nan province, China, is a dedicated tourist spot. Towering red rock cliffs envelop the relatively quiet village. It’s home to many of Yunnan’s Lisu ethnic minority people—communi-
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www.thelutheran.org
ELCA disaster assistance to the area. Since then ELCA grants have been used for community development. Better breeds of goats and the plant- ing of walnut trees have improved income levels, assuring that many people will stay on the land rather than migrate to cities (see Febru- ary 2013 issue). Computers in an elementary school have improved children’s abilities to compete when they enter high school, away from home and in larger towns. While these projects continue
with ELCA support and an aware- ness in these communities toward the potential for a better living, attention is also shiſting to direct church engagement.
The new Liming Wujihou Gospel Church was designed to reflect aes- thetic elements of Lisu culture.
ties that the ELCA has been engaged with for dozens of years. An earthquake in 1996 brought
Christianity was introduced
among the Lisu early in the 20th century. Missionaries helped the people create a written Lisu alpha- bet. Small churches now dot the countryside, oſten in places not readily accessible. Te Wujihou church is located
well beyond Liming, nestled up the valley on a winding mountain road. Te original building was crumbling from age and poor construction. As the ELCA expanded its accom- paniment with the Lisu Christian community, the people appealed for assistance in rebuilding. ELCA Global Mission agreed to help but asked that the community, which is concerned with retaining its culture, plan a building that reflected ele- ments of its heritage. At first the people didn’t know
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