Xi in China

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

Introduction / History

The Xi applied for official recognition as a minority in the 1950s but were rejected. In 1982 they were included in a list of undetermined minorities; in 1985 they were incorporated into the Miao nationality. The Xi history, language and customs are completely different from that of surrounding Miao groups. The most closely related people to the Xi are the Ga Mong, a group living in the area who were also included as part of the Miao until 1997. At that time the government reclassified both groups under the She nationality. This new status was done for political reasons and is not ethno-historically accurate.

The Xi claim to have originated in Gansu or Shaanxi many centuries ago. They fought with the Miao and Ge against the Qing Dynasty armies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Xi women regularly wore their beautiful traditional dress, until a few years ago. Now they wear it only on special occasions. All Xi people come together to celebrate festivals. Xi are allowed to take Ge, Miao, or Han spouses, but if they marry another Xi it must be someone from a different village than their own.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Xi are animists. They worship the spirits of trees and the forest, and even worship a spirit they believe inhabits the wood used in the construction of their homes.

The Xi have never had a church in their midst. Chinese Christians visited the Xi in early 1998, and while the Xi did politely listen to the evangelists, they were unwilling to accept Christ. They complained that they had been previously abused by members of the indigenous Chinese Er Liang Mifan (200 Grams of Rice) cult. The people in this group eat only 200 grams of rice per day. The Xi could not discern the difference between their Christian visitors and the cult, which has created a significant obstacle to future advancement of the gospel among the Xi.


What Are Their Needs?

The Xi people need to put their trust and identity in the hands of the loving God of Creation who sent his son to make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God.


Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual blindness deception by cults to be removed so they can understand and respond to Christ.

Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.

Pray the Xi people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Xi in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Xi
People Name in Country Xi
Pronunciation Shee
Alternate Names Gu Miao; Si Jia; Xi Jia; Xijia Miao; Ximahe Miao
Population this Country 1,800
Population all Countries 1,800
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18716
ROP3 Code 114351
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 Approximately 1,300 members of the Xi tribe are located in central Guizhou Province, including approximately 1,000 Xi who live in 21 villages surrounding Kaili City. Other Xi settlements in the area include Pingzhai Village of Longchang Township; and Xiangma, Loumiao, and Fuzhuang villages of Lushan Township. In addition, the Xi live in mixed communities with the Miao and Ge in Kaili, Huangping, Guiding, and Majiang counties. The Xi are related to the Luobohe Miao who are scattered throughout parts of Fuquan, Guiding, Longli, and Kaiyang 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 Approximately 1,300 members of the Xi tribe are located in central Guizhou Province, including approximately 1,000 Xi who live in 21 villages surrounding Kaili City. Other Xi settlements in the area include Pingzhai Village of Longchang Township; and Xiangma, Loumiao, and Fuzhuang villages of Lushan Township. In addition, the Xi live in mixed communities with the Miao and Ge in Kaili, Huangping, Guiding, and Majiang counties. The Xi are related to the Luobohe Miao who are scattered throughout parts of Fuquan, Guiding, Longli, and Kaiyang counties..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
94.50 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
5.50 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Miao, Luopohe (1,800 speakers)
Language Code hml   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Miao, Luopohe (1,800 speakers)
Language Code hml   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Miao, Luopohe

Primary Language:  Miao, Luopohe

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  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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