Although officially considered part of the Han nationality, the inhabitants of Xunpu are the descendants of foreign immigrants. As one historian explains, "The nearby village of Yuanlu, which is a flower growing center ... was a private garden belonging to a superintendent of maritime trade at the time of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). This person was an Arab by origin, whose name is rendered as Bu Shougeng. The interesting thing is that the surname of most of Yuanlu's residents is Bu, so there is a distinct possibility that they might be descended from this Yuan dynasty official." Today the inhabitants of Xunpu consider themselves a distinct people. They wear spectacular, colorful costumes, keep their own traditions, and are called Xunpu Ren by other residents of the area.
In the past Quanzhou was known as Zaitun. Founded in 711, it grew to become the world's second largest port during the Song and Yuan dynasties (960-1368) and continued to be important until its harbor silted up during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). "Over the centuries, it attracted merchants, envoys and missionaries from faraway Persia, Arabia, India and Europe." Another historian records, "A large number of Moslem, Nestorian, Catholic, Manichean and Hindu inscriptions are found in the area. ... The inscriptions are in Arabic, Syriac and Tamil."
The most eye catching feature of the Xunpu women is the way they dress their hair. "It is twisted up into a bun or chignon, often fastened with strands of red wool, and set off by a garland or two of dozens of chrysanthemum, jasmine or magnolia buds." Xunpu village is celebrated for its oysters. The outer walls of many of their homes are insulated with empty oyster shells collected from the nearby beach.
Today most Xunpu inhabitants adhere to traditional Chinese religions such as Daoism and ancestor worship. There are many strong Han Christian churches in nearby Quanzhou.
Although there are now only a few believers among the Xunpu, the Quanzhou area has a long and rich Christian history. The first Christian community was started by Franciscan monks in the early 1300s. In 1982 all the people of the nearby village of Shenghu, numbering 250, "were converted following an unusual case of exorcism." Churches in Quanzhou City have experienced steady growth over a twenty-year period. One house church which numbered 100 to 200 people in 1975 had grown to 1,000 members by 1986.
Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Xunpu in China.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Han Chinese, Xunpu |
People Name in Country | Han Chinese, Xunpu |
Natural Name | Xunpu Chinese |
Pronunciation | Shun-poo |
Alternate Names | Xunbu; Xunpu |
Population this Country | 700 |
Population all Countries | 700 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 4 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 18485 |
ROP3 Code | 114093 |
ROP25 Code | 301734 |
ROP25 Name | Chinese |
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 | Located just eight kilometers (five mi.) south of the large city of Quanzhou on the coast of Fujian Province, about 1,000 people live in the tiny fishing village of Xunpu, situated near the Jinjiang River that runs through Quanzhou before emptying itself into the East China Sea. 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 | Located just eight kilometers (five mi.) south of the large city of Quanzhou on the coast of Fujian Province, about 1,000 people live in the tiny fishing village of Xunpu, situated near the Jinjiang River that runs through Quanzhou before emptying itself into the East China Sea.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
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Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
10.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 3.00 %) |
4.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
60.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
26.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Chinese, Min Nan (700 speakers) |
Language Code | nan Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Chinese, Min Nan (700 speakers) |
Language Code | nan Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Chinese, Min Nan |
Primary Language: Chinese, Min Nan
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1875-1916) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1896-1974) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1884-2001) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
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 |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | God's Story video | God's Story |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Chinese, Min Nan | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | Magdalena video | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Chinese, Min Nan | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Chinese, Min Nan | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Operation China, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Profile Source | Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |