Tuerke in China


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Tuerke, who are ethnically and linguistically distinct from all other peoples in the region, were only "discovered" by the Chinese in 1956. Their name is a generic term for all Turkic peoples. They are also known as the Ili Turki, named after their location.

The oral history of the Tuerke states that they migrated from the Ferghana Valley—in today's Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan—about 200 years ago. The Ili Valley has long been a focal point for bandits. The Russians, angered at China's inability to control the border area, invaded Ili in 1871. They returned the region to China in March 1882. In 1962 there were several major China-Soviet military clashes along the Ili River.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Although the Tuerke possess their own set of customs, they are gradually replacing them with those of the Kazakhs and Uzbeks. The Tuerke are fond of dancing and telling folk tales. In keeping with Islamic regulations, Tuerke women are required to wear veils; these are not the full face veils worn in the Middle East.


What Are Their Beliefs?

All Tuerke are Sunni Muslims. Although they do not have their own mosques, the Tuerke are faithful in observing Islamic law and prayer times.

The far northwestern part of Xinjiang - which was formerly part of the Eastern Turkestan alliance —was one of the most missionary-neglected regions in China prior to 1949. There are few Christian communities in the area today. Gospel radio programs, aired in the Uzbek, Kazakh, and Uyghur languages, are the best opportunity the Tuerke have of hearing the gospel in a language they understand.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tuerke people in China need to be introduced to the living God who is calling them to himself. They need to meet the God who is more than customs and tradition. They need a relationship with the living God.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give people hearts to see the Tuerke people reached with for Christ.
Pray for the Lord to intervene in entire families through signs and wonders, revealing himself as the ultimate power.
Pray for their hearts to be drawn to know Jesus as their Savior and King.
Pray that as the Tuerke come to salvation, they would be passionate about seeing their families and communities saved and the gospel would spread swiftly.
Pray that they would have access to the word of God and when they hear it, it would ignite a hunger in them to seek the Lord.


Scripture Prayers for the Tuerke in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tuerke
People Name in Country Tuerke
Pronunciation too-ER-keh
Alternate Names Ili Turk; Turk; T'urk
Population this Country 300
Population all Countries 600
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12210
ROP3 Code 103991
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country In 1980 R. F. Hahn reported the existence of at least 30 Tuerke households, numbering approximately 120 people. Another source lists a 1991 population of 200 Tuerke. There are probably also some Tuerke living in Kazakstan. The Tuerke in China live near the city of Yining (formerly called Kuldja) within the Ili Valley in the northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Located 700 kilometers (432 mi.) west of the provincial capital, Yining is predominantly a Kazak and Uzbek town. Ethnic unrest between Xinjiang's Muslim population and the Han Chinese creates a tension in this part of the country. "Chinese appear uneasy here and warn against staying out after dark, when knives are fast and streets unsafe.… The local Kazaks and Uzbeks can be a rough bunch (regularly drunk in the evenings and occasionally involved in street fights) but very friendly towards foreigners, whom they put in a different category from those in authority."   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country In 1980 R. F. Hahn reported the existence of at least 30 Tuerke households, numbering approximately 120 people. Another source lists a 1991 population of 200 Tuerke. There are probably also some Tuerke living in Kazakstan. The Tuerke in China live near the city of Yining (formerly called Kuldja) within the Ili Valley in the northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Located 700 kilometers (432 mi.) west of the provincial capital, Yining is predominantly a Kazak and Uzbek town. Ethnic unrest between Xinjiang's Muslim population and the Han Chinese creates a tension in this part of the country. "Chinese appear uneasy here and warn against staying out after dark, when knives are fast and streets unsafe.… The local Kazaks and Uzbeks can be a rough bunch (regularly drunk in the evenings and occasionally involved in street fights) but very friendly towards foreigners, whom they put in a different category from those in authority.".   Source:  Operation China, 2000

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Ili Turki (300 speakers)
Language Code ili   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Ili Turki (300 speakers)
Language Code ili   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Ili Turki

Primary Language:  Ili Turki

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source (Representative photo)
DFAT - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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