Mianchi Qiang in China

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

Introduction / History

Records inscribed on bones and tortoise shells dating from the Shang Dynasty (1700-1100 BC) indicate that the ancestors of the Qiang were one of the first people recorded in Chinese history. "One branch of these peoples gradually moved to the upper reaches of the Min River and subsequently became today's Qiang."

The name Qiang, which means "herdsmen," has for centuries been a generic description for a large number of nomadic tribes along China's western border with Tibet. Mianchi is a distinct language that cannot be understood by the members of any other Qiang group in Sichuan.

Mianchi Qiang is one of the 9 or 10 Qiangic languages spoken in Sichuan Province. At one time in history there were 62 Qiang tribes, but many of these have since assimilated into larger peoples or have simply vanished because of disease, warfare, and famine.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Because of invading armies and bandits in the past, many Qiang villages built stone watchtowers and forts—often 13 or 14 stories high—which are still visible from mountain passes. The two-story stone houses of the Qiang, called qionglong, are flat-roofed and resemble a watchtower. Builders construct them without the use of plans or measuring tools, depending entirely on their memory.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In addition to worshiping a multitude of deities, the ancestors of the Mianchi Qiang are highly honored. They observe strict protocol in the home so that the spirits of the ancestors are not offended. "Placed on the upper part of the support are memorial tablets of their ancestors. The cauldron support is under a taboo and the place near it is where the whole family eat their meals, get together, sing and dance on festive occasions and offer sacrifices to their ancestors."

There are about 150 Christians among the Mianchi Qiang, some of whom belong to the Quakers (Society of Friends). Thomas Torrance Jr. met with the Qiang believers in 1994. He reported, "There is a whole cluster of Qiang Christians here in Wenchuan." Many Qiang believers have moved to Wenchuan because of persecution and discrimination in their home areas. The believers in Wenchuan intend their church "to be the center for the spread of the gospel and the Christian church throughout the whole Aba region."


What Are Their Needs?

There is a need for the few groups of believers among them to grow and to start new churches.


Prayer Points

Pray that they would see that their ancestors have no power to help them or watch over them, in contrast to God Almighty, who is alive and powerful.
Pray that God's desire that none would perish but that all would come to repentance would be a reality in their lives.
Pray that a Disciple Making Movement among them would result in mature believers and the start of new churches.
Pray for the light of the love of God and the gospel to shine brilliantly among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Qiang, Mianchi in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Qiang

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Qiang, Mianchi
People Name in Country Qiang, Mianchi
Natural Name Mianchi Qiang
Pronunciation Mee-an-chee Chee-ung
Alternate Names Chiang, Mianchi; Mianchi; Mien-ch'ih Ch'iang
Population this Country 27,000
Population all Countries 27,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18666
ROP3 Code 114292
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 Approximately 20,000 speakers of the Mianchi Qiang language live in every part of Wenchuan County (except Longxi District) in Sichuan Province. The region is criss-crossed by the mighty Min River. One visitor described the terror of crossing a 300-year-old chain bridge: "We saw the river underneath dashing out of a gorge, like a reinless horse to make a thunderous noise, and lashing at the rocks and reefs in its middle, to send up a white spray."   Source:  Operation China, 2000
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 Approximately 20,000 speakers of the Mianchi Qiang language live in every part of Wenchuan County (except Longxi District) in Sichuan Province. The region is criss-crossed by the mighty Min River. One visitor described the terror of crossing a 300-year-old chain bridge: "We saw the river underneath dashing out of a gorge, like a reinless horse to make a thunderous noise, and lashing at the rocks and reefs in its middle, to send up a white spray.".   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.74 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
98.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
1.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Qiang, Southern (27,000 speakers)
Language Code qxs   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Mianchi
Dialect Code 15830   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Qiang, Southern (27,000 speakers)
Language Code qxs   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Mianchi
Dialect Code 15830   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Qiang, Southern

Primary Language:  Qiang, Southern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2023)
Bible-New Testament No
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
Film / Video Jesus film: view in Qiang, Southern Jesus Film Project
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Ealge XiaoYing - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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