YÜKIANG, DIOCESE of. — In the northeastern part of the province of Kiangsi (central China).
It was established as an apostolic vicariate, under the name of Eastern Kiangsi, on 28 August 1885; on 25 August 1920 it was given the name of the apostolic vicariate of Fuchow, and on 1 June 1921 that of Y. On 29 November 1932 it ceded 5 civil subprefectures for the establishment of the apostolic prefecture of Kiangchangfu, Nancheng (v.); on 11 April 1946 it was elevated to a suffragan diocese of Nanchang. It is entrusted to the Lazarists of the Western Province of the United States of America.
Area: 40,849 sq. km.; with approx. 2,500,000 inhabitants, of whom 23,328 are Catholics; 58 priests (34 Chinese); 6 nuns (2 indigenous); 11 dispensaries, 4 orphanages, 57 schools (30 June 1947).
The history of the evangelization of Y. is shared with that Nanchang (v.).