Qinghai Kazakh in China

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

Introduction / History

Although the Qinghai Kazakhs are part of the official Kazakh nationality in China, they now consider themselves to be a distinct people group. Their language has also become different from other Kazakhs in Xinjiang. The Qinghai Kazakhs have a common affinity and kinship for each other because of the horrendous events of their history.

In 1936 a group of 10,000 Kazakhs left northern Xinjiang and migrated south to Qinghai. "Beset there by Mongol nomads, the Kazakhs moved further south in 1939, only to be caught and massacred by a local warlord. Of 10,000 Kazakhs, they say all but 700 perished. Today they have recovered to become a commune of about 2,000 semi-nomads, who raise sheep, horses, cattle and camels and live in houses near Golmud in winter."

The Kazakhs have long desired to have their own independent state. In the 1940s a man named Osman led his fellow Kazakhs in a rebellion. This rebellion gave them control of a large area of southwest Xinjiang. Several years later in 1951, Osman was captured and executed. In 1953, the communists slaughtered 12,600 of the 15,000 Kazakhs who attempted to flee China.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Qinghai Kazakhs are nomads who migrate seasonally in search of new pastures. Their yurts are designed to be quickly assembled and easily transported. Their livestock includes sheep, goats, and some cattle. One of their favorite drinks is called kumyss, a wine made from fermented mare's or horse's milk. When a young Kazak couple marries, the "bride price" is often paid in horses.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although they claim to be Muslims, the Qinghai Kazakhs are essentially animists. They also engage in ancestor worship. They are surrounded by Tibetan Buddhists on every side but have stubbornly refused to embrace their religion. The Qinghai Kazakhs still admit to being Muslims; but without the Koran, teachers, or a mosque to worship in, their devotion has gradually eroded.

Famous Scottish missionary George Hunter translated the first Scriptures for the Kazakh in China. Books of the Bible were printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1922. Today the Kazaks of Qinghai are a completely untouched group and have no knowledge whatsoever of Christ or the gospel.


What Are Their Needs?

Without the guidance of Christ, these people will be lost in this life and the life to come. They need someone to go to them as Christ-bearers.


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 Qinghai Kazakh 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 Kazakh, Qinghai in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kazakh, Qinghai
People Name in Country Kazakh, Qinghai
Natural Name Qinghai Kazakh
Pronunciation Ching-hai KAH-zahk
Population this Country 3,700
Population all Countries 3,700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
Alternate Names Haixi Kazaks; Kazakh; Qinghai
People ID 18517
ROP3 Code 114131
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 2,900 members of an isolated Kazak people group live in the northwest section of Qinghai Province. Being seminomadic, they inhabit a wide stretch of land in the Haixi Autonomous Prefecture which is jointly administered by the Mongols, Tibetans, and Kazaks. They are the only group of Kazaks found in Qinghai (Blue Sea) Province.   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 2,900 members of an isolated Kazak people group live in the northwest section of Qinghai Province. Being seminomadic, they inhabit a wide stretch of land in the Haixi Autonomous Prefecture which is jointly administered by the Mongols, Tibetans, and Kazaks. They are the only group of Kazaks found in Qinghai (Blue Sea) Province..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Kazakh, Qinghai in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
30.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
1.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
69.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kazakh (3,700 speakers)
Language Code kaz   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kazakh (3,700 speakers)
Language Code kaz   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kazakh

Primary Language:  Kazakh

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-2008)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1820-2014)
Bible-NT Audio 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 Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kazakh Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Kazakh Bible Video (Kieli Kitap 2010) General / Other
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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Kazakh YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation - Russia
Photo Source Abdulrakhim Aitbayev 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project  
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Read more