CHOUCHIH (Сhоwснiн), APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. — It is located in the central part of the province of Shensi (China). It was erected on 17 June 1932, by division of the apostolic vicariate of Sianfu and entrusted to the Chinese secular clergy. Christian origins date back to the 17th century, first through the preaching of the Jesuits (1630) and later that of the Franciscans (1696).
It has an area of approximately 8,000 sq. km. The total population, as of 30 June 1947, was over 1,000,000 inhabitants. Catholics numbered 23,600. The missionary personnel consisted of 23 Chinese secular priests and 1 Spanish Franciscan father; 10 Chinese lay religious and 12 Chinese sisters.
BIBL.: GM, p. 192; MC, pp. 81-82; Annuaire de l'Eglise catholique en Chine 1948, Sciangai 1948, passim. Adamo Pucci