Kalmyk-Oirat

Approximately half a million Kalmyk-Oirat people live in them to return to China in 1771. Only a few survived the several different countries in Central Asia. The majority long journey to Xinjiang. ‘The rest died from famine or fell (210,000) live in , followed by Russia (174,000), victim to the hostile raids of neighboring tribes.’3 Those and China (91,300). Smaller numbers of Kalmyk-Oirat live who stayed behind on the Russian side of the border are in Ukraine (700) and Uzbekistan (500), while scattered called Kalmyk, which means ‘to remain or stay behind’.4 communities can be found The Kalmyk-Oirat ‘burial in the fi elds’ is in the United States (800), unique. The corpse is placed on a wooden Germany, Kyrgyzstan and cart, which is pulled furiously by a horse Taiwan. until the body falls from the back of the In Russia the Kalmyk-Oirat cart. Wherever it falls, it is left to be are concentrated in devoured by beasts and birds of prey.5 , on the steppes The Kalmyk-Oirat have been unfl atteringly between the Don and described as ‘a squalid race, reputed never Volga rivers, north of the to change their clothes or wash. When one Caucasus Range and east coat wears out, a new one is put over it of the Caspian Sea. The and not until it rots off do they discard a Kalmyk-Oirat in China are garment.’6 concentrated in The majority of Kalmyk-Oirat are followers Province, as well as parts of Tibetan . Shamans still per- of Gansu and Xinjiang. In form many rituals and ceremonies. Some China many researchers Kalmyk-Oirat practise a crude form of black combine the Oirat and magic under the guise of Buddhism. Every Torgut groups, but they New Year the Kalmyk-Oirat devote their are profi led separately in prayers to Okeen Tenger, their female spirit this book. Although the protector. She is believed to have saved the Torgut and Kalmyk-Oirat world from evil by bearing, and later killing, are closely related and the offspring of the Lord of Evil, Erlik Khan. speak the same language, International Create The Kalmyk-Oirat are one of the least they view themselves evangelized Buddhist groups in the world. In Russia there as distinct tribes. The Kalmyk-Oirat are one of the main are a reported 1,700 Christians among them, but almost branches of Mongolian people. One expert described all of these are Orthodox believers who were converted the Kalmyk-Oirat as ‘physically smaller, more garrulous, under the infl uence of Russians. That number includes friendlier and more inquisitive than [other ]’.1 only about 50 evangelical believers. Today there are no 2 The Kalmyk-Oirat have had a terrible history. From known believers among the Kalmyk-Oirat in China. The New 1755–57, the Chinese Qing armies crushed the Oirat, Testament was fi rst translated into Kalmyk-Oirat in 1827, forcing the survivors to fl ee to the northern Caucasus but it went out of print in 1894. Work is presently underway Mountains in Russia. Oppression there forced most of to produce an updated version.7

Overview of the Kalmyk-Oirat Status of Evangelization RUSSIA Other Names: Kalmuk, Kalmuck, Also in Germany, Taiwan, Kyrgyzstan Qalmaq, Kalmytskii, Jazyk, Language: Altaic, Mongolian, 61% MONGOLIA Khalmag, Oirat, Volga Oirat, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Oirat- European Oirat, Western Mongolian, Kalmyk-Darkhat Xinjiang Gansu Xinjiang Mongol, Weilate, Durbet CHINA Dialects: 8 (Buzawa, Oirat, Dörböt, 38% Qinghai Population Sources: Kalmyk-Oirat Sart Qlamaq, Jakhachin, Bayit, 210,000 in Mongolia (2001, P Mingat, Khoshut) Population: Johnstone and J Mandryk [2000 Professing Buddhists: 85% 477,300 (2000) fi gure]) 538,700 (2010) 174,000 in Russia (1993, United Practising Buddhists: 40% 607,000 (2020) Bible Societies) Christians: 0.4% 1% Countries: Mongolia, 91,300 in China (2000, P Hattaway) Scripture: New Testament 1827 Russia, China, USA, 800 in USA (2001, Joshua Project (out of print); work in progress Ukraine, Uzbekistan, A B C II) 8 Germany, Taiwan, 700 in Ukraine (2001, Joshua Jesus fi lm: available A = Have never heard the gospel Kyrgyzstan B = Have heard the gospel but Project II) Gospel Recordings: Kalmyk have not become Christians Buddhism: Tibetan 500 in Uzbekistan (2001, Joshua Christian Broadcasting: none C = Are adherents to some form Christians: 1,800 Project II) of Christianity ROPAL code: KGZ

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