Ongkor in China

The Ongkor have only been reported in China
This people group’s population is unknown or estimated to be extremely small. This people group may have assimilated into larger surrounding groups and may no longer be recognizable as a distinct group. To ensure every people group is represented, Joshua Project includes unknown and very small population people groups until on-site research determines they do not exist. More info at Small People Group Policy.
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Identity

The few remaining Ongkor have been included as part of the Ewenki nationality in China. The Ongkor do not use the name Ewenki but sometimes refer to themselves as the Xinjiang Solon.


History

The Ongkor are the remnant from a tumultuous time in history. Their ancestors were a diaspora group of Solon Ewenki who were sent to Xinjiang from Manchuria in 1763. Other troops who made the yearlong march across China included the ancestors of today's Western Xibe and Western Daur minorities. The reigning Manchu Dynasty ordered them to bring the hostile western front of China under control. After the collapse of Manchu rule, the soldiers and their families decided to stay in Xinjiang.


Customs

The Ongkor have few distinct customs left. They have adopted the lifestyles of their Western Daur and Han Chinese neighbors. The Ongkor emphasize courtesy in accordance with seniority. "When someone meets an older person, he offers tobacco to him, bends his knees, stands aside and bows to show his greeting. Even when he is on a horse, he should dismount to greet first."


Religion

Although the other Ewenki groups in China have shamans and worship a wide range of gods and idols, the Ongkor have lost these practices. They could best be described as animists, believing all natural forces have a soul. Most Ongkor under the age of 40 are atheists who have no religious beliefs.


Christianity

Throughout their history, from the time they were a numerous people to their current state on the verge of extinction, the Ongkor people have never been touched by Christianity. There has never been a known Ongkor church. The western Xinjiang region - a stronghold of Islam - is one of the least evangelized places in the world.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Ongkor in China.


Profile Source:   Operation China, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Ongkor
People Name in Country Ongkor
Pronunciation Ong-kohr
Alternate Names Ongkor Solon; Onkor; Sinkiang Solon; Turkestan Solon; Xinjiang Ewenki
Population this Country 30
Population all Countries 30
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18649
ROP3 Code 114270
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The Ongkor are the smallest group profiled in this book, with just 20 people reported in a 1993 study. Yet those 20 individuals view themselves as a separate ethnic community, speak (or spoke until recently) their own unique language, and hold to a rich history. As recently as the 1945 Xinjiang census, the Ongkor numbered 2,506 people. Since that time they have intermarried with other groups, especially with the Western Daur and Western Xibe. They have rapidly lost their language and identity, so that today a mere 20 individuals could still be considered ethnically distinct. While many would discount the Ongkor as not worthy of mention, it should be remembered that in Vietnam the government has given official minority status to the 32 members of the ODu tribe. The Ongkor inhabit one village near Yining in Xinjiang's Ili Prefecture.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The Ongkor are the smallest group profiled in this book, with just 20 people reported in a 1993 study. Yet those 20 individuals view themselves as a separate ethnic community, speak (or spoke until recently) their own unique language, and hold to a rich history. As recently as the 1945 Xinjiang census, the Ongkor numbered 2,506 people. Since that time they have intermarried with other groups, especially with the Western Daur and Western Xibe. They have rapidly lost their language and identity, so that today a mere 20 individuals could still be considered ethnically distinct. While many would discount the Ongkor as not worthy of mention, it should be remembered that in Vietnam the government has given official minority status to the 32 members of the ODu tribe. The Ongkor inhabit one village near Yining in Xinjiang's Ili Prefecture..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
50.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
50.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Evenki (30 speakers)
Language Code evn   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Evenki (30 speakers)
Language Code evn   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Evenki
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  CRIENGLISH  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bryan Nicholson / cartoMission  
Profile Source Operation China, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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