Chinese Buriat in China

The Chinese Buriat have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Buddhism (Tibetan)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Buriat in China inhabit grasslands in the Hulunbuir region of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This remote area is located where the three nations of China, Russia and Mongolia meet. The Buriat originally consisted of several Mongolian people groups and clans who were recognized as five distinct tribes. The Buriat—who claim to be descended from either a grey bull or a white swan—still share many common traits and customs with the Mongols.

The 1982 China language census listed 65,000 speakers of the Buriat language in China. In later censuses the Chinese authorities did not count the Buriat separately but included them under the Mongolian nationality. Large numbers of Buriat people also live in Russia and Mongolia but, because of historical and political influences, the Buriat in each country now speak different languages and should be considered three different groups from an ethnolinguistic standpoint. The Buriat in China are relatively recent arrivals, having migrated from Siberia to Inner Mongolia in 1917.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Buriat language spoken in China is different from the Buriat in Mongolia and Russia. They reportedly 'speak a highly distinctive dialect of Mongolian '. The two main dialects of Buriat in China are known as New Bargu and Old Bargu. Some sources suggest these two dialects are so different that they may represent distinct languages, but there needs to be more research.

The yokhor folk dance plays an important role in the lives of the Buriat. Girls imitate the actions and movements of birds and animals. Most Buriat live in mud and wood houses, although some are still nomads.


Most Buriat live in mud and wood houses, although some are still nomads.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Historically, most Buriat believed in shamanism, allowing mediums to control all interactions between the gods and their communities. To be a shaman, a person had to be seen to possess utkha, a mystical spiritual energy. In the 1500s, Buddhist missionaries from Tibet travelled into Mongolia and introduced Tibetan Buddhism. It soon grew in influence, and what grew out of it was a mixture of Buddhist teachings and shamanist practices. In the past century many Buriat in Russia and Mongolia became atheists under the communist system, but a significant number of Buriat in China have continued to believe in Buddhism. A new religion called Burkanism has also appeared among them in recent years.

A few of the Buriat in China have become Christians, resulting from Chinese house church efforts originating in a revival in Heilongjiang Province. There are more than 20,000 believers in the city of Daqing. They took responsibility for evangelizing westward into Inner Mongolia, boldly preaching the gospel. The new Buriat believers are hampered by a lack of Scriptures and other resources in their language.


What Are Their Needs?

The Buriat people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers them in John 10:10.


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 Buriat 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 Buriat, Chinese in China.


References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Buriat, Chinese
People Name in Country Buriat, Chinese
Natural Name Chinese Buriat
Pronunciation BOO-rree-aht
Alternate Names Bargu; Bargu Buriat; Buriat-Mongolian; Buryat; Northern Mongolian
Population this Country 168,000
Population all Countries 168,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 19319
ROP3 Code 115058
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Nei Mongol Autonomous Region: Hulun-Buyr district, near Mongolia and Russia (Siberia) borders.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Nei Mongol Autonomous Region: Hulun-Buyr district, near Mongolia and Russia (Siberia) borders..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Buriat, Chinese in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism (Tibetan)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
69.10 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.90 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
29.90 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Buriat, China (168,000 speakers)
Language Code bxu   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Buriat, China (168,000 speakers)
Language Code bxu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Buriat, China

Primary Language:  Buriat, China

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Telaneo - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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. Learn more.


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