Chrame in China

The Chrame have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Buddhism (Tibetan)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Muli was formerly a Buddhist monastery town presided over by a king until the 1950s. "The rulers of Muli are said to be of Manchu origin. They were given the sovereignty of the kingdom in perpetuity in recognition of valorous services rendered to Yungcheng, the famous Manchu emperor, who ascended the throne in 1723." In the past the Chrame were often attacked by Nosu raiders from the east. The Chrame king ruled with "absolute spiritual and temporal sway" over his subjects. "The villagers occupy wooden shanties scattered over the hillsides below the town. They are very poor and live in constant fear of the lama king and his parasitic satellites."

The self-named Chrame were commonly known in the past as Xifan, a derogatory Chinese name meaning "barbarians of the west." It was a name not only applied to this group but sometimes also used for all Tibetans. The Chrame "are a member of the Tibetan minzu [nationality], but feel they have little in common with the Tibetans."


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Muli people practice both monogomay (one man with one wife and polyandry (brothers sharing the same wife).


What Are Their Beliefs?

All Chrame adhere to Tibetan Buddhism. It forms a major part of their ethnic and cultural identity. The Chrame inwardly long for the restoration of their kingdom and their former prestige among the other peoples of the area.


What Are Their Needs?

The Chrame are one of the most unreached people groups in China. The Baptist missionaries Dan and Lucy Carr planned to work in Muli in the late 1940s, but they were evacuated from China before they had the opportunity to move there.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord will intervene in their families, calling people to his side.
Pray for loving, Holy Spirit led workers.
Pray that their hearts will be drawn to the Lord of lords.
Pray that a church planting movement will thrive in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Chrame in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Chrame
People Name in Country Chrame
Pronunciation Krah-mee
Alternate Names Hsifan; Nothern Pumi; Prinmi; Sichuan Pumi; Xifan
Population this Country 50,000
Population all Countries 50,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11373
ROP3 Code 102197
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 A widespread, isolated area of southwest Sichuan Province is home to approximately 39,000 Chrame people. Most are located in and around Muli County, described as "a rich possession. The rivers, especially the Litang, carry gold and produce a considerable revenue." Scattered Chrame communities are found as far west as the Yarlung (Dadu) River at Shimian, 200 kilometers (123 mi.) from Muli and as far north as Wenchuan County. In addition, a small number of Chrame live in the Yongning District of Ninglang County in northern Yunnan Province. The Chrame king once "held sway over a territory of 9,000 square miles - an area slightly larger than Massachusetts."   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 A widespread, isolated area of southwest Sichuan Province is home to approximately 39,000 Chrame people. Most are located in and around Muli County, described as "a rich possession. The rivers, especially the Litang, carry gold and produce a considerable revenue." Scattered Chrame communities are found as far west as the Yarlung (Dadu) River at Shimian, 200 kilometers (123 mi.) from Muli and as far north as Wenchuan County. In addition, a small number of Chrame live in the Yongning District of Ninglang County in northern Yunnan Province. The Chrame king once "held sway over a territory of 9,000 square miles - an area slightly larger than Massachusetts.".   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Chrame in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism (Tibetan)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
99.80 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.20 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Pumi, Northern (50,000 speakers)
Language Code pmi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Pumi, Northern (50,000 speakers)
Language Code pmi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Pumi, Northern

Primary Language:  Pumi, Northern

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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