Paxi in China

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

Introduction / History

Linguistically, the Paxi are members of the Tai Lu language group. While almost all Tai Lu are Theravada Buddhists, the Paxi are Muslims. Today, the Paxi have been ostracized by the Tai Lu Buddhist community and have been forced to live in their own villages. They have a new name for themselves, Paxi, and have become socially distinct. Patrick Thornbury has described "fusion" between two cultures as "the process whereby two or more cultures combine to produce another, that is significantly different from the parent cultures." The Paxi are a fusion of the Tai Lu and the Hui, who converted them to Islam. It is uncertain whether the Paxi have been officially counted as Hui or as part of the Dai nationality in China.

The Paxi were converted to Islam approximately 200 years ago when the religion was introduced to them by Hui Muslim traders from Dali in central Yunnan Province. The Hui disguised themselves as raisin-sellers, but their real target was to convert people to their religion. Since their conversion the Paxi have struggled against continual persecution and prejudice from the Buddhist community. They were forced to leave their families and friends and had to build their own villages. Over the years some Hui from Dali have traveled to Menghai and married Paxi women.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Paxi have abandoned the Tai Lu culture. They do not observe any of the Theravada Buddhist festivals and refuse to intermarry with non-Muslims.

Strictly adhering to the Sunni Muslim way of life, the Paxi follow Islamic teachings and traditions.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The entire Paxi population are Sunni Muslims. Strictly adhering to the Muslim way of life, the Paxi follow Islamic teachings, do not eat pork and worship in a small mosque. They receive frequent visits from Hui scholars and teachers who help them in their faith and understanding of the Koran.

There are no Christians among the Paxi. They have a complete lack of knowledge and understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a tragedy that Muslim missionaries won this people group to Islam approximately 100 years before the first appearance of Christianity in the region. There are a small number of Tai Lu who have converted to Christianity. Interestingly, the small Tai Lu Christian community was, like the Paxi, persecuted and forced to live in their own villages, but they retained more of the Tai Lu culture than the Paxi did.


What Are Their Needs?

They need to learn about their true identity through knowing Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that God gives Christians in the area the desire to reach the Paxi.
Pray that the Paxi people will have a growing spiritual desire to learn about Jesus.
Pray for the Lord to have his way with Paxi families.


Scripture Prayers for the Paxi in China.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Paxi
People Name in Country Paxi
Pronunciation Pah-shee
Alternate Names Dai Muslims
Population this Country 1,500
Population all Countries 1,500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18651
ROP3 Code 114273
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 1996 Chinese television documentary put the population of the Paxi at "more than 1,000." The Paxi are located in two main villages, eight kilometers (five mi.) from Menghai Township, at the foot of Jingwang Mountain in Xishuangbanna Prefecture. Xishuangbanna is the most ethnically diverse area in China. It is home to more than 40 distinct ethnolinguistic people groups.   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 1996 Chinese television documentary put the population of the Paxi at "more than 1,000." The Paxi are located in two main villages, eight kilometers (five mi.) from Menghai Township, at the foot of Jingwang Mountain in Xishuangbanna Prefecture. Xishuangbanna is the most ethnically diverse area in China. It is home to more than 40 distinct ethnolinguistic people groups..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Paxi in China 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 Lu (1,500 speakers)
Language Code khb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Lu (1,500 speakers)
Language Code khb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Lu

Primary Language:  Lu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1921-1932)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1933)
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 God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Lu Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Lon&Queta - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: Operation China. 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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