The name Qiang is a Chinese term. The Qiang refer to themselves as Rimai in Maoxian County; Rima in Mao Township and Chibusu District; and Ma in Lixian County. "The meaning of these words is 'the righteousness of people'."
Jiaochang is spoken by more people than any other dialect of Southern Qiang in China. The linguistic diversity among the various Qiang groups scattered throughout Sichuan is bewildering. Captain William Gill was one of the first Westerners ever to pass through Qiang territory in the 1870s. Gill compiled a brief wordlist from a Qiangic language, but stated, "This orthography can convey but a feeble idea of the astounding noises the people make in their throats to produce these words."
Between AD 600 and 900 many Qiang were assimilated by the Han and Tibetan cultures, leaving only a small group intact. This group is now known as the Qiang nationality.
Although they may struggle to understand each other's language, there are strong cultural ties between the various Qiang groups, including the mutual possession of stone towers. The Qiang believe their common ancestors constructed them.
The majority of Qiang people are polytheists and animists, deifying mountains, sheep, trees, storms, fire, etc. Others are followers of Tibetan Buddhism (especially those living close to Tibetan communities) and Daoism.
There are approximately 100 Christians among the Jiaochang Qiang dialect group. They are the result of pre-1949 work by both Protestant and Catholic missionaries. In 1998 the Christian mission Gospel Recordings produced the first Christian audio recording in a Qiang language. It was recorded in Songpinggou District of Maoxian County, within the territory of the Jiaochang Qiang language. Apart from the labors of Thomas Torrance, mission work among the Qiang includes a Catholic church that was established in Maoxian in 1898 by French missionaries. In 1906 a British missionary, whose Chinese name was Feigesheng, preached in Maoxian. In 1906 and 1909, the Catholic Church of England established a church, hospital, and school in the Qiang area. In 1918 an Englishman named Maosenwei also founded a school, medical clinic, and churches.
Scripture Prayers for the Qiang, Jiaochang in China.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Global Prayer Digest: 2007-07-16 |
People Name General | Qiang, Jiaochang |
People Name in Country | Qiang, Jiaochang |
Pronunciation | Chee-ung, Jeeow-chung |
Natural Name | Jiaochang Qiang |
Natural Pronunciation | Jeeow-chung Chee-ung |
Population this Country | 33,000 |
Population all Countries | 33,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Chiang, Jiaochang; Jiaochang; Qiang, Southern |
People ID | 18662 |
ROP3 Code | 114288 |
Country | China | ||
Region | Asia, Northeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 23 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | More than 24,000 speakers of the Jiaochang Qiang language live in the western part of Sichuan Province among rugged mountains near the Min River. The great majority live in Maoxian County, in the districts of Jiaochang (which lends its name to the dialect), Shidaguan, Taiping, and Songpinggou; others live in the Xice area of Zhenjiangguan District in Songpan County (which is the northernmost Qiang community in China). A small number of Jiaochang Qiang also live in parts of Beichuan County. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Country | China |
Region | Asia, Northeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 23 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | More than 24,000 speakers of the Jiaochang Qiang language live in the western part of Sichuan Province among rugged mountains near the Min River. The great majority live in Maoxian County, in the districts of Jiaochang (which lends its name to the dialect), Shidaguan, Taiping, and Songpinggou; others live in the Xice area of Zhenjiangguan District in Songpan County (which is the northernmost Qiang community in China). A small number of Jiaochang Qiang also live in parts of Beichuan County.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Primary Language | Qiang, Southern (33,000 speakers) |
Language Code | qxs Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Jiaochang |
Dialect Code | 15828 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Qiang, Southern (33,000 speakers) |
Language Code | qxs Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Jiaochang |
Dialect Code | 15828 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Qiang, Southern |
Primary Language: Qiang, Southern
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
10.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.30 %) |
0.70 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
85.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
4.30 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
0.0 %
|
Independent |
45.0 %
|
Orthodox |
0.0 %
|
Other Christian |
0.0 %
|
Protestant |
0.0 %
|
Roman Catholic |
55.0 %
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 Operation China, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | Bethany World Prayer Center |
Video Source | Asia Harvest |
Profile Source | Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |