Tanglang in China

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

Introduction / History

The Tanglang tribe has been officially included as part of the Yi nationality in China. In the 1920s one study in Lijiang County alone listed 26 different minority groups. The Tanglang believe they are a unique people group, with their own set of customs and their own language. The name Tanglang may mean "praying mantis" in Chinese.

Some Tanglang claim that they migrated to their present location about 200 years ago. They traveled on horseback from an unspecified location in the north and settled in the verdant basin, unoccupied at the time. Other Tanglang say that they have always lived in their present location. Despite living in the vicinity of minority groups such as the Naxi, Pumi, and Bai, the Tanglang have managed to preserve their own distinct culture and customs.


What Are Their Lives Like?

A massive earthquake rocked Lijiang County on 3 February 1996, killing 300 people, injuring 40,000, and leaving 300,000 homeless. The epicenter of the earthquake was near the Tanglang area. Many of their homes were destroyed, and because they are desperately poor, they have expended much energy since that time repairing their homes and trying to get their lives back to normal.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Every year the whole Tanglang community gathers to offer sacrifices to a sacred Mountain god. They believe a demon lives inside the largest mountains in the region. The demon must be placated for their lives to prosper and for no ill fortune to come their way. The Tanglang had a sacred pagoda, but it was destroyed in the 1996 earthquake. They make a pilgrimage to their sacred mountain every 13th day of the fifth lunar month. They offer sacrifices to the Mountain god.

The Tanglang have never appeared in any previous ethnolinguistic people group lists of China. They are a completely unevangelized and unknown group. The Tanglang's remote location has prevented outside Christians from having any contact with them. The nearest significant Christian community to them are the Lisu believers farther to the west.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tanglang people need a revelation of the one true God who created and commands creation and that he sent his very own son to purchase their freedom for eternity.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord would send laborers to the Tanglang people, even among believers in China. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open their spiritual eyes so they can see Jesus.
Pray that the Lord would awaken spiritual hunger in them to seek the truth, leading them to Jesus himself.
Pray that an awakening in the people will be contagious and the entire community would find Christ together.


Scripture Prayers for the Tanglang in China.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tanglang
People Name in Country Tanglang
Pronunciation Tung-lung
Alternate Names Tanglang Jiang
Population this Country 1,400
Population all Countries 1,400
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18695
ROP3 Code 114325
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 small Tanglang people group - who numbered 947 people within 185 families in a 1996 study - inhabit eight villages in the isolated Tanglang Basin in the southern part of Lijiang County. The locals call the basin Tanglangba. Administratively the Tanglang live in the Hongmai Community of Tai'an District. The Tanglang Basin is watered by the Tanglang River and is surrounded by a rim of mountains. During the rainy season, roads to the Basin are impassable; visitors are required to hike three hours from the nearest road in order to reach them.   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 The small Tanglang people group - who numbered 947 people within 185 families in a 1996 study - inhabit eight villages in the isolated Tanglang Basin in the southern part of Lijiang County. The locals call the basin Tanglangba. Administratively the Tanglang live in the Hongmai Community of Tai'an District. The Tanglang Basin is watered by the Tanglang River and is surrounded by a rim of mountains. During the rainy season, roads to the Basin are impassable; visitors are required to hike three hours from the nearest road in order to reach them..   Source:  Operation China, 2000

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
96.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
4.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tanglang (1,400 speakers)
Language Code ytl   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tanglang (1,400 speakers)
Language Code ytl   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tanglang

Primary Language:  Tanglang

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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