Qi Li in China

The Qi Li have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Qi Li are one of five distinct tribes of the official Li nationality. "The women of the Ki [Qi] ... like those of all the Hainan tribes and sub-tribes, wore dress peculiar to their region. Their silver ornaments differed in design, and the headdress was a turban or sometimes a tasseled handkerchief."

The Qi Li have a long history of being bullied by Chinese landowners. Many chose to live back in the mountains beyond the reach of their oppressors, while those who remained in the valleys were gradually assimilated to Chinese culture and language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Until recently divorce was not prohibited among the Li. "A [Li] widow cannot return to her parents; this is supposed to discourage prostitution and promote marriage."


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Qi Li living in more remote villages have many superstitions. They believe demons live in nature, especially in large mountains and waterfalls. In 1937 the Qi would not allow a Western traveler to visit a nearby waterfall, claiming it was the home of the devil.

The Qi Li are an unreached people group. Few have ever been approached with the gospel. The foundation of the American Presbyterian Mission on Hainan Island was laid by Carl C. Jeremiassen, a native of Denmark. He went to Hainan in 1881 as an independent, self-supporting missionary. "During that year he made a complete circuit of the island, treating the sick and distributing Chinese literature wherever he visited." To the Qi Li, however, who had no prior knowledge of Christianity, this scattered seed fell on rocky soil. Decades later they told another foreigner about a man who had visited them long before and "who had stayed for only an hour. His name they did not know, but he distributed many papers showing a strange God with a beard!" Today there are possibly several hundred believers among the Qi Li; however, the few churches are weak and nominal.


What Are Their Needs?

They need to lay their hope in Jesus and the guaranteed salvation that comes from his blood sacrifice. They need to be educated on why Jesus is more than a prophet and how He is truly the Son of God and our Lord.


Prayer Points

Pray that believers would settle among this people group and share the ways of the savior with them.
Pray for all Christians in this location to learn to grow more in love for one another as a testimony of Christ’s goodness.
Pray for grace and truth to be instilled in their hearts.


Scripture Prayers for the Li, Qi in China.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Li, Qi
People Name in Country Li, Qi
Natural Name Qi Li
Pronunciation chee lee
Alternate Names Gei; Hei; Heitu; Ki; Qi; Qiandui
Population this Country 320,000
Population all Countries 320,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
PeopleID3 18553
ROP3 Code 114170
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 The Qi Li are the second largest Li group on Hainan Island. Although numbering 178,000 speakers in 1987, there are many more ethnic Qi Li who now can speak only Chinese. This people group is located in the central sections of Hainan Island, especially concentrated in Baoting and Qiongzhong counties.   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 The Qi Li are the second largest Li group on Hainan Island. Although numbering 178,000 speakers in 1987, there are many more ethnic Qi Li who now can speak only Chinese. This people group is located in the central sections of Hainan Island, especially concentrated in Baoting and Qiongzhong counties..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.14 %)
0.20 %
Ethnic Religions
96.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
3.80 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Hlai (320,000 speakers)
Language Code lic   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Qi
Dialect Code 10653   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Hlai (320,000 speakers)
Language Code lic   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Qi
Dialect Code 10653   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Hlai

Primary Language:  Hlai

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2015)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hlai Jesus Film Project
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Create International  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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