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Operation China Oirat September 19 Location: The 1982 China census most of them to numbered 166,000 Oirat in Qinghai, flee back into China Xinjiang, and Gansu provinces. Of this in 1771. Only a few number, 106,000 belong to the Torgut Oirat survived the ethnic group, which have been profiled long journey back to separately in this book. Although the Xinjiang. “The rest Torgut and Oirat are closely related died from famine or and speak the same language, they fell victim to the view themselves as distinct tribes. hostile raids of Most Oirat live in the remote neighboring tribes.”5 mountains and verdant grasslands of Those who stayed northern Qinghai Province. Others live behind on the in Subei and Aksay counties in Russian side of the southwest Gansu Province. border are called Kalmyk which Identity: The Oirat were acknowledged means “to remain separately in the 1982 Chinese or stay behind.”6 census, before being officially included under the Mongolian Customs: The Oirat nationality. One expert described the “burial in the fields” Oirat as “physically smaller, more is unique in all of Paul Hattaway garrulous, friendlier and more China. The corpse is placed on a saved the world from evil by bearing inquisitive than [other Mongols].”1 In wooden cart which is pulled furiously and later killing the offspring of the Xinjiang the Torgut, Olot, Korbet, and by a horse until the body falls from Lord of Evil, Erlik Khan. Hoshut peoples are known as the the back of the cart. Wherever it falls “Four Tribes of Oirat.”2 it is left to be devoured by beasts and Christianity: Few Christians have ever birds of prey.7 The Oirat have been reached out to the Oirat with the Language: Oirat has its own script — described as “a squalid race, reputed gospel. Today there are no known called Tod — which is different from never to change their clothes or wash. believers, nor has there ever been a the traditional Mongolian downward When one coat wears out, a new one Christian fellowship among the Oirat script. Although Oirat and Torgut can is put over it and not until it rots off in China. Percy Mather in 1914 was communicate easily, linguists have do they discard a garment.”8 the first missionary to specifically labeled the Oirat spoken in Qinghai target the Oirat. Mather, who was and Gansu the Kok Nur vernacular of Religion: The majority of Oirat are “widely regarded”9 by the Oirat, the Oirat language group.3 followers of Tibetan Buddhism. compiled an Oirat dictionary. In 1922 Shamans are still used to perform the China Consultation Committee History: The Oirat have had a terrible many rituals and ceremonies. Some lamented, “There are no definite history.4 From 1755–57 the Qing Oirat practice a crude form of black plans for reaching the [Oirat].… No armies crushed the Oirat, forcing the magic under the veneer of Buddhism. missionaries as yet are planning to survivors to flee to the northern Every New Year the Oirat devote their learn the dialect of the aborigines.”10 Caucasus Mountains in present-day prayers to Okeen Tenger, their female The Scriptures are presently being Russia. There, oppression forced protector. She is believed to have translated into Oirat. Overview of the Oirat Status: Officially included under Mongolian Status of Evangelization Countries: Mongolia, Russia, GANSU Language: Altaic, Mongolian, 95% Zhangye China, Germany, Taiwan, USA • Eastern Mongolian, Oirat-Khalkha, XINJIANG Pronunciation: “Ooi-rut” Oirat-Kalmyk-Darkhat • Other Names: Kalmyk-Oirat, Xining Dialects (4): Jakhachin, Bayit, •Madoi Xinjiang Mongol, Western Mongol, Mingat, Khoshut QINGHAI Weilate Religion: Tibetan Buddhism, Scale 5% 0% Population Source: Shamanism, Islam 0 KM 400 166,000 (1982 census) including 106,000 Torgut;11 Christians: None known A B C Population in China: Out of a total Mongol population Scripture: New Testament 1827 A = Have never heard the gospel 60,000 (1982) of 4,806,849 (1990 census); (out of print); Work in progress B = Were evangelized but did not 91,300 (2000) 205,000 in Mongolia; Jesus film: None12 become Christians 117,800 (2010) 174,000 Kalmyk in Russia Gospel Recordings: C = Are adherents to any form of Location: (1993 UBS); Christianity Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu Also in Germany, Taiwan, USA Kalmyk #03205 (possibly in Russian dialect) Religion: Tibetan Buddhism Location: Christians: None Known Qinghai: Haixi Prefecture; Christian Broadcasting: None SW Gansu: Aksay and Subei ROPAL code: KGZ00 counties; Parts of SE Xinjiang OIRAT 421.
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