Baima in China

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

Introduction / History

The Baima have been counted as part of the Tibetan nationality, but they are clearly a distinct ethnic group who has little to do with Tibetans. They speak their own language, wear their own distinct dress, proudly maintain their own traditions and culture. Perhaps most conclusively of all, they have never been followers of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Baima claim to be descendants of the ancient Di tribe. Chinese records from AD 551 mention that "The Di are also called Baima." One historian states, "The Baima tribe was the largest tribe of the Di nationality, which lived in Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi during the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-265)." During the Western Zhou Dynasty (1100-771 BC), considerable numbers of Han Chinese migrated to Gansu to live in mixed communities with the Di. Other groups over the course of history—including one Miao clan more than 2,000 years ago—were banished to the remote mountains where the Baima live today. They may have contributed to the current ethnic makeup of the people groups in the region.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Before marriage Baima youth are allowed to be sexually active, but once married, they expect fidelity and divorce is considered a disgrace. After they are married, Baima women wear fishbone necklaces and hats made of goatskin and chicken feathers. The Baima live near the home of China's giant pandas.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Baima regard Lord White Horse as the greatest of all gods. Baima tombs are topped with small colorful flags, nine flags for a deceased male and seven for a female. It is said that these flags will lead the souls of the dead into heaven. The Baima also regard the rooster as one of their protective gods. They say that at one time enemy troops were preparing to attack a Baima village in the middle of the night. A rooster crowed loudly and woke up the villagers who were then able to repel the attack.

The Baima have never been exposed to the gospel. Their cultural, linguistic and geographic isolation has blocked them off from the rest of the world. Even Chinese gospel radio broadcasts are unable to access the high remote mountains. It is possible that not one individual among them has ever heard the gospel. The Baima are a good choice for a church or agency wanting to focus on a largely untouched tribe.


What Are Their Needs?

The Baima people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers them in John 10:10.


Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one 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 that the Baima 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 Baima in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission

http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2008/07/10

http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2010/07/13


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2008-07-10
Global Prayer Digest: 2010-07-13
People Name General Baima
People Name in Country Baima
Pronunciation Bai-ma
Alternate Names Bai Ma; Di; Pe; Pingwu Tibetans; White Horse Tibetans
Population this Country 18,000
Population all Countries 18,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 10576
ROP3 Code 100783
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 16  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Approximately 13,700 Baima people live in 14 villages along the Baima (White Horse) Valley, on both sides of the Sichuan-Gansu provincial border. Several recent publications have claimed a Baima population of 110,000, but such a high figure is incorrect. Baima villages are accessible from the town of Wenxian in Gansu Province - 32 kilometers (20 mi.) away.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 16  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Approximately 13,700 Baima people live in 14 villages along the Baima (White Horse) Valley, on both sides of the Sichuan-Gansu provincial border. Several recent publications have claimed a Baima population of 110,000, but such a high figure is incorrect. Baima villages are accessible from the town of Wenxian in Gansu Province - 32 kilometers (20 mi.) away..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
2.20 %
Ethnic Religions
95.80 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
2.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Baima (18,000 speakers)
Language Code bqh   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Baima (18,000 speakers)
Language Code bqh   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Baima

Primary Language:  Baima

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2023  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.