There are major cultural and linguistic differences between Western Xibe and the Xibe in northeastern China. The Western Xibe have "preserved their own speech, clothing, and housing much better."
More than two centuries of separation from the Xibe in Liaoning has resulted in "a fair number of words" that are different. Many Western Xibe are bilingual or multilingual in Chinese, Kazakh, Uygur, Russian, and Mongolian. Xibe is a written language which uses a reformed Manchu script. About half of the Xibe in Xinjiang can speak their language.
The Western Xibe are the descendants of a Manchu garrison, 3,000-strong, sent to Xinjiang in the spring of 1763 to rule the territory of the recently defeated Jungars. "The officer in charge of the migration, lining his pockets with the money earmarked for the migration, cut down the time for the journey from two years to one. Many died on the way from exhaustion and practically all the infants had to be abandoned in the wilderness as they moved on." It was a year-long trek to Xinjiang.
The Western Xibe "excel at archery and are known for their remarkable horsemanship. Their enemies know well how lethal their iron arrow-heads really are. Even Nu'erhachi, a leader of the Manchurian aristocrats, was wounded in the skull in a battle against the Xibes when an arrowhead actually pierced his iron helmet." When a Western Xibe girl is born, the family hangs a red banner at the door as an announcement to their neighbors. When a boy is born, they display an archer's bow.
The primary religion among the Western Xibe is shamanism. Others follow Tibetan Buddhism, while still others are classified as polytheists who worship the traditional Xibe deities of Xilimama and Haierkan. Despite being surrounded by Muslims, the Western Xibe have resisted all pressure to convert to Islam.
A visitor to Xinjiang recently commented, "Many Xibe have adopted the religion of their Han neighbors which means that some have even become Christians!" They are the first known believers among the Western Xibe. They are being formed into indigenous Xibe churches. Hudson Taylor once stated, "Why should a foreign aspect be given to Christianity? We wish to see churches of such believers presided over by pastors of their own countrymen, worshiping God in their own tongue, in edifices of a thoroughly native style."
The Western Xibe people need to put their trust and identity in the hands of the loving God of Creation who sent his son to make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God.
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 the Western Xibe 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 Xibe, Western in China.
Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2018-07-29 |
People Name General | Xibe, Western |
People Name in Country | Xibe, Western |
Natural Name | Western Xibe |
Pronunciation | Shee-ba |
Alternate Names | Manchu, Western; Sibo; Xibe; Xinjiang Xibe |
Population this Country | 57,000 |
Population all Countries | 57,000 |
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 | 18721 |
ROP3 Code | 114356 |
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 | According to a 1983 study, 27,364 Western Xibe were living in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This figure was expected to rise to approximately 42,000 by the start of the year 2000. The majority are located in the Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, southwest of Yining City. Other Xibe communities are found in Huocheng, Gongliu (Tokkuztara), and Qoqek counties in the Ili Kazak Prefecture. The Western Xibe region is close to the Kazakstan border. 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 | According to a 1983 study, 27,364 Western Xibe were living in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This figure was expected to rise to approximately 42,000 by the start of the year 2000. The majority are located in the Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, southwest of Yining City. Other Xibe communities are found in Huocheng, Gongliu (Tokkuztara), and Qoqek counties in the Ili Kazak Prefecture. The Western Xibe region is close to the Kazakstan border.. Source: Operation China, 2000 |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
30.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.47 %) |
0.50 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
68.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
1.50 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Xibe (57,000 speakers) |
Language Code | sjo Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Xibe (57,000 speakers) |
Language Code | sjo Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Xibe |
Primary Language: Xibe
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2013) |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Epel - Shutterstock 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. |