Western Ghao-Xong in China

The Western Ghao-Xong have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The virtually inaccessible mountains where the provinces of Hunan, Sichuan, and Guizhou meet were the site of countless wars involving the Ghao-Xong. The Qing Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) issued an edict that "the rules governing them should be different from those enforced elsewhere in China." It took the Chinese 18 years (1855-1872) to crush one rebellion. According to a memorial, "When reaching a Miao village, the government troops slaughtered rebels and those who had surrendered."

The Western Ghao-Xong have been called several different names in the past, including Huayuan Miao, Red Miao, and West Hunan Miao. They are part of the Miao nationality, but they speak a language different from all other Miao groups in China. Their dress and customs are also different. Most Miao in Hunan call themselves Ghao-Xong, in contrast to other Miao groups such as the Hmong, Hmu, Gha-Mu, and A-Hmao.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Ghao-Xong celebrate the Siyueba Festival on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. "Many centuries ago, there were Miao [Ghao-Xong] people living by the River Longtang at the foot of the Fenghuang Mountains in Western Hunan. No longer able to bear the oppression they suffered under the rule of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), they rose in revolt under the leadership of two brothers, Yayi and Yanu. ... Yayi was killed in battle. Yanu led the remnants of his forces into safety in Guizhou. ... To commemorate their heroes the Miao [Ghao-Xong] people gather to hold a ceremony at which they sing, dance and perform traditional rites."


The Western Ghao-Xong people's high mountain lifestyle shows their longstanding values of perseverance and freedom.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Ghao-Xong (along with the She and Yao minorities) worship Pan Hu, the dragon-dog they claim as the forefather of their people. The Pan Hu myth was recorded as early as the fifth century AD in the Chronicles of the Later Han Dynasty (Hou Han Shui).

The work of the Catholic Passionist missionaries was hindered by their inability to speak either Ghao-Xong or Chinese fluently. One missiologist remarks, "Little wonder then, that in Hunan there does not appear to be any large-scale turning of the Miao [Ghao-Xong] people to Christ." The western Hunan region was largely neglected by Protestant missionaries prior to 1949. Today, the majority of Ghao-Xong have never heard the gospel.


What Are Their Needs?

Without the guidance of Christ, these people will be spiritually lost in this life and the life to come. They need someone to go to them as Christ-bearers.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.

Pray for loving, anointed workers.

Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.

Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Ghao-Xong, Western in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Ghao-Xong, Western
People Name in Country Ghao-Xong, Western
Natural Name Western Ghao-Xong
Pronunciation gao-SHONG
Alternate Names Ghao-Xong Western; Hsianghsi Miao; Huayuan Miao; Meo Do; Northern Miao; Red Miao; West Hunan Miao; Xiangxi
Population this Country 1,395,000
Population all Countries 1,395,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 28
PeopleID3 18466
ROP3 Code 108339
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 A study based on the 1990 Chinese census listed 820,000 speakers of the Western Ghao-Xong language. Most live in six counties of northwestern Hunan Province. Others are scattered far and wide, from Hubei Province in the north, to Guizhou and Sichuan in the west, and to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the south.   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 A study based on the 1990 Chinese census listed 820,000 speakers of the Western Ghao-Xong language. Most live in six counties of northwestern Hunan Province. Others are scattered far and wide, from Hubei Province in the north, to Guizhou and Sichuan in the west, and to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the south..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Ghao-Xong, Western in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.38 %)
0.60 %
Ethnic Religions
92.40 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
7.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Miao, Western Xiangxi (1,395,000 speakers)
Language Code mmr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Miao, Western Xiangxi (1,395,000 speakers)
Language Code mmr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Miao, Western Xiangxi

Primary Language:  Miao, Western Xiangxi

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group location: Field Missionary. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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