Nubra in China

The Nubra have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

For centuries Nubra merchants have lived along the trade routes of the Old Silk Roads, which ran east into Tibet and north to Xinjiang and Central Asia. Tribes and bandits from the Ladakh region frequently raided areas inside today's China, including the Gug tribe who drove the Keriya people deep into the Taklimakan Desert before retreating back to their mountain hideouts.

Historically, the Nubra were part of the Ladahki people. Although the Ladahki are primarily Tibetan Buddhist, most Nubra have converted to the Sunni sect of Islam. The Nubra do not appear in Chinese literature, so it is uncertain how they have been officially classified by the authorities. Local researchers in Xinjiang, however, are aware of the presence of this unique tribe who identify themselves as Nubra or Nubran to outsiders.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Nubra experienced a complete cultural transformation when they converted from Tibetan Buddhism (with all its idols, demons, ghosts, and spirit appeasement) to Islam - which abhors idolatry and strictly opposes the worship of any deity other than Allah. The customs of the Nubra reflect their Islamic beliefs. Many Nubra also herd yaks, goats, and sheep.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Nubra live near their fellow Muslims: the Uyghur, Kazakh, Tajik, and Kirghiz. Although they speak the Ladakhi language, the major religious differences between the Muslim Nubra and the Buddhist Ladakhis have caused the Nubra to develop a separate ethnicity.

There are no known Christians among the Nubra either in China or India. Although there are about 120 Moravian believers among the Ladakhis in India, the church has not grown at all since 1922 when they numbered 158 believers. In recent years an Indian mission, the Cooperative Outreach of India, has commenced medical and evangelistic work among the Nubra in India. After one of their trips they reported, "After having crossed the highest motorable road in the world one reaches the Nubra Valley. ... We had 20 cataract surgeries and over 750 patients who came from far flung areas near the borders." Because of the tense political situation, little has been done to help the Nubra living within China's borders. The Nubra remain unreached and unevangelized.


What Are Their Needs?

These Muslims need to know that they need a sin-free savior, Jesus Christ. Without him, they can follow all the laws but never have fellowship with Almighty God.


Prayer Points

Pray for Nubra elders and family leaders to have dreams and visions of Christ.
Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.
Pray for loving workers.
Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.
Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Nubra in China.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Nubra
People Name in Country Nubra
Pronunciation Noo-bra
Alternate Names Nubran
Population this Country 700
Population all Countries 700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18647
ROP3 Code 114268
ROP25 Code 306182
ROP25 Name Nubra
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 Several hundred Nubra people live in the southwest corner of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, near the juncture of Xinjiang, Tibet, Pakistan, and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The majority of Nubra live in India where they are considered a dialect group of the Ladakhi. The Nubra in India live in the Nubra Valley north of the town of Leh.   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 Several hundred Nubra people live in the southwest corner of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, near the juncture of Xinjiang, Tibet, Pakistan, and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The majority of Nubra live in India where they are considered a dialect group of the Ladakhi. The Nubra in India live in the Nubra Valley north of the town of Leh..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Ladakhi (700 speakers)
Language Code lbj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Ladakhi (700 speakers)
Language Code lbj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Ladakhi
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bryan Nicholson / cartoMission  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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