Tuvan in China


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Tuva in China are a diaspora group who migrated to their present location in the early 1800s. Although the Tuva were "discovered" as a distinct people by the Chinese authorities in 1986, they are still officially classified as part of the Mongolian nationality.

The Tuva in China separated from the main Tuva population in the early 1800s, when a group migrated to the Altai region of Xinjiang. Today their language is different from Tuva in Russia and Mongolia, and they have become their own distinct people group. In the late 1800s the Tuva in China started to call themselves Mongolians "to avoid oppression by the then ruling Qing Dynasty, and to enjoy the favored status of the Mongolians, who were allies of the Manchurian court." Tuva was declared an independent state by the Tzarist government in Russia in 1912; at the same time Mongolia gained independence from China. Freedom was short-lived however. Tuva became a Russian protectorate in 1914.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Tuva do not live in yurts as do the Mongolians, "but in square houses built of logs with a roof plastered with thick mud." Chinese scholars note that the Tuva "speak Mongolian with outsiders and have adopted many of the manners and customs of the surrounding Mongolian tribes, but they speak their own Turkic language among themselves."


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tuva in all three of the countries they inhabit adhere to Tibetan Buddhism. They were converted by Tibetan missionaries in the 1700s, although shamans and mediums are still active among the Tuva communities in China. Most Tuva youth in China now consider themselves atheists.

Very few Tuva in China have ever heard the name of Christ. The situation among the Tuva in Russia is better, with a reported "registered evangelical churches." One Tuva believer in Russia was recently martyred. His death was reported on television, causing a growth of interest in the gospel among many people. One Christian handed a Mongolian New Testament to a Tuva girl in China. "She started reading and wouldn't let up, walking away towards the hills with her treasure."


What Are Their Needs?

The Tuva people need to accept the warm embrace of the only Savior so they can enjoy spiritually meaningful lives.


Prayer Points

Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.

Pray for signs and wonders to happen among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.

Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Tuvan in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tuvan
People Name in Country Tuvan
Alternate Names Altai Tuva; Altai Uriangkhai; Diba; Monchak; Monjak; Mungak; Shor; Soyod; Soyon; Soyot; Tokha; Tuba; Tuvin; Tuvinian; Tuwa; Urinkhai; Uryangkhai
Population this Country 4,300
Population all Countries 342,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15668
ROP3 Code 110333
ROP25 Code 308403
ROP25 Name Tuvinian
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 Tuva inhabit the region where Russia, Mongolia and China intersect. The majority reside in the Tuva Republic of Russia, radiating out from the capital of Kyzl. Many also live in north-west Mongolia, especially in the Hovsgol and Hovd Aimags, and a small number reside in the Xingiang Region of north-west China.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
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 Tuva inhabit the region where Russia, Mongolia and China intersect. The majority reside in the Tuva Republic of Russia, radiating out from the capital of Kyzl. Many also live in north-west Mongolia, especially in the Hovsgol and Hovd Aimags, and a small number reside in the Xingiang Region of north-west China..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Religion Subdivision: Tibetan
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
85.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
5.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
10.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tuvan (4,300 speakers)
Language Code tyv   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tuvan (4,300 speakers)
Language Code tyv   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tuvan
Photo Source zoetnet - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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