Li, Qi June 29
among the Li. “A [Li] widow GUANGDONG cannot return to her •Haikou parents; this is supposed to •Lingao HAINAN ISLAND discourage prostitution, and •Dan Xian 4 •Qionghai promote marriage.” • •Baisha Dongfang •Wanning
Religion: The Qi Li living in Scale •Lingshui more remote villages have 0KM80 •Sanya many superstitions. They Population in China: believe demons live in 178,000 (1987) nature, especially in large 245,100 (2000) mountains and waterfalls. In 316,200 (2010) Location: Hainan Island 1937 the Qi would not allow Religion: Animism a Western traveler to visit a Christians: 350 nearby waterfall, claiming it was the home of the devil.5 Overview of the Qi Li Countries: China Christianity: The Qi Li are Pronunciation: “Chee-Lee” an unreached people group. Other Names: Few have ever been Qi, Ki, Gei, Hei, Qiandui, Heitu approached with the gospel. Population Source: The foundation of the 178,000 (1987 LAC); Out of a total Li population of American Presbyterian 1,110,900 (1990 census) Mission on Hainan Island Location: Hainan Island: was laid by Carl C. Qiongzhong and Baoting counties Jeremiassen, a native of Status: Officially included under Li Denmark. He went to Hainan Language: Daic, Kadai, Li-Laqua in 1881 as an independent, Dialects (3): Tongshi (125,000),
Paul Hattaway self-supporting missionary. Qiandui (29,000), Baocheng (24,000) Location: The Qi Li are the Almost all Qi Li are bilingual “During that year he made a Religion: Animism, Polytheism, second largest Li group on in the Hainan dialect of complete circuit of the No Religion, Christianity Hainan Island. Although Chinese. Qi consists of island, treating the sick and Christians: 350 numbering 178,000 three dialects: Tongshi, distributing Chinese Scripture: None 1 speakers in 1987, there Qiandui, and Baocheng. The literature wherever he Jesus film: None 6 are many more ethnic Qi Li Qiandui dialect group has visited.” To the Qi Li, Gospel Recordings: None who now can speak only been strongly influenced by however, who had no prior Christian Broadcasting: None Chinese. This people group the Chinese, both knowledge of Christianity, ROPAL code: LIC02 is located in the central linguistically and culturally. this scattered seed fell on sections of Hainan Island, In 1983, 78,000 members rocky soil. Decades later Status of Evangelization especially concentrated in of the Li nationality were they told another foreigner Baoting and Qiongzhong able to speak only Chinese.3 about a man who had 71% counties. The majority of these visited them long before and assimilated Li are from the “who had stayed for only an 28% Identity: The Qi Li are one Qi tribe. The Qi Li language hour. His name they did not of five distinct tribes of the has six tones. know, but he distributed 1% official Li nationality. “The many papers showing a women of the Ki [Qi]… like History: The Qi Li have a strange God with a beard!”7 A B C those of all the Hainan long history of being bullied Today there are possibly A = Have never heard the gospel tribes and sub-tribes, wore by Chinese landowners. several hundred believers B = Were evangelized but did not become Christians dress peculiar to their Many chose to live back in among the Qi Li; however, C = Are adherents to any form of region. Their silver the mountains beyond the without a Bible in their Christianity ornaments differed in reach of their oppressors, language, the few churches design, and the headdress while those who remained in are weak and nominal.8 was a turban or sometimes the valleys were gradually There are no gospel a tasseled handkerchief.”2 assimilated to Chinese recordings or other culture and language. evangelistic tools available Language: The Qi Li are in the Qi Li language. perhaps the most Sinicized Customs: Until recently of the various Li groups. divorce was not prohibited
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