YUKIANG, DIOCESI DI

YUKIANG, DIOCESE OF. — In the north-eastern part of the province of Kiangsi (central China).

It was erected as an apostolic vicariate under the name of Eastern Kiangsi on 28 August 1885; on 25 August 1920 it took the name of apostolic vicariate of Fuchow, and on 10 June 1921 that of Yukiang. On 29 November 1932 it ceded five civil sub-prefectures for the erection of the apostolic prefecture of Kiengchangfu, Nancheng (v.). On 11 April 1946 it was raised to the status of a diocese, suffragan of Nanchang. It is entrusted to the Lazarists of the western province of the United States of America.

Area: 40,849 sq. km.; population ca. 2,500,000, of whom 23,328 are Catholics; priests 58 (34 Chinese); sisters 6 (2 native); 11 dispensaries, 4 orphanages, 57 schools (30 June 1947).

The history of the evangelization of Yukiang is the same as that Nanchang (v.).

BIBL.: AAS, 12 (1920), pp. 564-65; 13 (1921), pp. 443-43; GM, p. 213; Annuaire de l'Eglise cath. en Chine 1948, Shanghai 1948, passim; MC, 1950, p. 374. Adamo Pucci