Mongol, Alxa August 12

History: Alxa was the center of their social and religious of nomadic peoples such as isolation, they will probably the Hun, Wuhuan, and Qiang be one of the most difficult during the Qin and Han people groups to penetrate dynasties (221 BC – AD 220). in all of China. One scholar states that the Alxa and the Dongxiang of Gansu were originally part of the Jagatai Alxa West Banner •Alxa East Banner khanate, “who flourished •Yinchuan during the Yuan period.… NINGXIA QINGHAI They were converted to GANSU Scale SHAANXI Islam but were thereafter 0 KM 400 discriminated against by other Mongols who Population in China: 20,000 (1997) presumably resisted 21,700 (2000) conversion.… They were 28,000 (2010) compelled to move Location: Inner Mongolia Religion: Islam eastward.… When they Christians: None Known reached Zhenfan they split into two routes. One group Overview of the crossed the Helan Alxa Mongols mountains and went to Countries: China Hetao where their Pronunciation: “Al-sha-Mon-gols” descendants are today’s Other Names: Muslim Mongols Muslim Mongols of the Population Source: Alashan [Alxa] West 20,000 (1997 AMO); Banner.”9 Out of a total Mongol population of 4,806,849 (1990 census) Paul Hattaway Location: W Inner Mongolia: Alxa Location: More than 21,000 the difference is great Customs: The Alxa Mongols West Banner (County) of the Alxa Muslim Mongols live in the enough to prevent rely on camels for survival. League (Prefecture) There are an estimated Status: Officially included West Banner of the Alxa intermarriage or even inter- under Mongolian 4 200,000 camels in the League, in the western part friendship.” A Chinese Language: Altaic, Mongolian, of Inner Mongolia. The Alxa writer adds, “The customs region — one-sixth of the Eastern Mongolian League is surrounded on of the Mongolians in this world’s two-humped Dialects: 0 10 three sides by the Badain area, like the terrain, are Bactarian camels. Camel Religion: Islam Jaran, Tengger, and Ulan quite different from that of milk is not only used as Christians: None known Buh deserts.1 The the eastern part of Inner drink but “is also fermented Scripture: None population of the entire Alxa Mongolia.”5 The Chinese call and made into an alcoholic Jesus film: None League is only 150,000.2 Alxa, “The Mongolia west of beverage, cheese, butter Gospel Recordings: 11 Alashanmeng The League covers an area the Yellow River bend”6 — a and yogurt.” Due to a horrific infant mortality rate Christian Broadcasting: None of 270,000 square reference to both geographic ROPAL code: None kilometers (105,300 sq. and cultural differences. in the past, the Alxa mi.), 60% of which is desert. Mongols do not celebrate a Status of Evangelization The main Alxa town is Bayan Language: The Alxa Mongols child’s birth until it is three 12 Hot, which means “city of use the todo “clear” script, years old.” 98% wealth” in Mongolian.3 also used by the Oirat and Torgut in Xinjiang. A Religion: The Alxa Mongols Identity: The Alxa Mongols Mongolian from farther east remain fervent followers of are a distinct people group. commented on the songs of Islam to this day. Their faith They are the only group the Alxa Mongols: “The constitutes their historical 2% 0% and ethnic identity as a within the Mongolian melodies sounded booming A B C people group. nationality in China to and featured a broad range A = Have never heard the gospel profess Islam as their of notes.”7 The town of B = Were evangelized but did not Christianity: There are no become Christians religion. As one mission Bayan Hot is a linguistic C = Are adherents to any form of agency notes, “They do mix, being home to known Christians among the Christianity indeed qualify as a people members of 15 other Alxa Mongols. Few have ever group, because, like caste, nationalities.8 heard the gospel. Because

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