Putian Chinese in China


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Putian people are often stereotyped by other Chinese as heroic and athletic people. Many of China's best track and field stars come from Putian. In Southeast Asia the Putian are known as the Hinghua.

The Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty (1271-1368): In 1213, the Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, broke through the Great Wall, which had been designed to prevent them from entering China. The Mongols swept all opposition before them, winning more territory than any other kingdom in the history of world. Their realm stretched from Southeast Asia to Hungary in Europe. The Mongol armies were brutal, killing and plundering unmercifully wherever they went.


What Are Their Lives Like?

We know very little about the lives of the Putian Chinese people.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The implementation of Communist policies resulted in a ban on all religious activity across China between 1966 and 1976. Thousands of temples, mosques, and churches were smashed to the ground, and believers were forced to practice their faith in secrecy.

The Nestorian church disappeared from China in the fourteenth century, leaving almost no trace of its existence. "This was the second disappearance of Christianity from China, and when it returned two hundred years later, the next wave of Christians seemed largely unaware that there had ever been Christians there before them."

The gospel has returned to China, and today there are probably 100,000 Putian Chinese Christians.


What Are Their Needs?

The Putian Chinese church needs to be revived and purified.


Prayer Points

Pray for Putian Chinese disciples to disciple others.
Pray for Putian Chinese churches to exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit, drawing others to the Lord.
Pray for the Lord to abundantly provide for the Putian Chinese as a testimony of his goodness and power.


Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Putian in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Han Chinese, Putian
People Name in Country Han Chinese, Putian
Natural Name Putian Chinese
Pronunciation Pu-shee-un
Alternate Names Han Chinese; Henghua; Hinghua; Hinghua Min; Hsingua; Putian; Puxian; Pu-Xian; Xianyou; Xinghua Min; Xinghua, Putian
Population this Country 3,062,000
Population all Countries 3,123,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 18481
ROP3 Code 114089
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Approximately two and a half million Puxian Chinese densely inhabit a relatively small area in eastern Fujian Province. The Puxian take their name from nicknames of the two counties they primarily inhabit: Putian and neighboring Xianyou. Xianyou is also under the jurisdiction of Putian City. The Puxian language is spoken in an oval valley about 55 kilometers (34 mi.) wide and 100 kilometers (62 mi.) long.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Approximately two and a half million Puxian Chinese densely inhabit a relatively small area in eastern Fujian Province. The Puxian take their name from nicknames of the two counties they primarily inhabit: Putian and neighboring Xianyou. Xianyou is also under the jurisdiction of Putian City. The Puxian language is spoken in an oval valley about 55 kilometers (34 mi.) wide and 100 kilometers (62 mi.) long..   Source:  Operation China, 2000

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Non-Religious
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
25.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 5.50 %)
8.00 %
Ethnic Religions
33.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
34.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chinese, Pu-Xian (3,062,000 speakers)
Language Code cpx   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chinese, Pu-Xian (3,062,000 speakers)
Language Code cpx   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chinese, Pu-Xian

Primary Language:  Chinese, Pu-Xian

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1892)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1900)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1912)
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
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2025  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.