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 ethnohistorically 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.
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.
The Xi are animists. They particularly 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.
Scripture Prayers for the Xi in China.
Profile Source: Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-07-15 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-12-03 |
People Name General | Xi |
People Name in Country | Xi |
Pronunciation | Shee |
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 |
Alternate Names | Gu Miao; Si Jia; Xi Jia; Xijia Miao; Ximahe Miao |
People ID | 18716 |
ROP3 Code | 114351 |
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 | 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 | 23 (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 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: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
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 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
Unknown
|
Independent |
Unknown
|
Orthodox |
Unknown
|
Other Christian |
Unknown
|
Protestant |
Unknown
|
Roman Catholic |
Unknown
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 Operation China, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | Joshua Project / Global Mapping International |
Profile Source | Operation China, Asia Harvest Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |