Gtsang Tibetan in Bhutan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Gtsang Tibetans are part of the Tibetan nationality, but they speak a language only partly intelligible with other Tibetan varieties. Captain O 'Conner, the British trade agent at Gyantse in the early 1900s, described the Gtsang Tibetans as "superstitious indeed to the last degree, but devoid of any deep-rooted religious convictions or heart searchings, oppressed by the most monstrous growth of monasticism and priest-craft which the world has ever seen."


Where Are they Located?

Gtsang Tibetans are located in China (Tibet), Nepal, India, and a small number are in Bhutan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Gtsang Tibetans hold the Xigaze New Year Festival in the first week of the 12th lunar month. Thousands of visitors have flocked to Gyantse since 1408 for the annual Horse Racing and Archery Show.


The Tibetan region is geographically difficult to enter, and Tibetan Buddhists have a long history of having no interest in the gospel.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gtsang region is home to several Buddhist sects, including the Nyingmapa (Ancient), Kagyupa (Oral Transmission), and Sakya (Gray Earth) schools. Gtsang Tibetans are devout Tibetan Buddhists. In the 1600s, a Jesuit missionary entered the land of the Gtsang Tibetans, and won many to Roman Catholicism, and there are still a few who remain Christian.


What Are Their Needs?

The Gtsang Tibetans need true spiritual hunger that will lead them to the cross.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord would send his ambassadors to the Gtsang Tibetans to bring Jesus to them.
Pray that the Gtsang Tibetans in Bhutan will soon understand the spiritual depth and the unfathomable love of our Lord and Savior.
Pray that soon there will be fellowships and disciple making movements among the Gtsang Tibetans in Bhutan and China.


Scripture Prayers for the Tibetan Gtsang in Bhutan.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18698/CH
https://books.google.com/books?id=OzEOKNPsv2EC&pg=PA325&lpg=PA325&dq=Gtsang+Tibetans&source=bl&ots=u-d-qhBHFB&sig=ojViiE6OCotWOuiId-sqECAJpvY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT-vrsypHWAhWi0FQKHc3BDn0Q6AEIQzAG#v=onepage&q=Gtsang%20Tibetans&f=false
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/-Gtsang-Tibetans-of-Nepal-and-China/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Tibetan Gtsang
People Name in Country Tibetan Gtsang
Natural Name Gtsang Tibetan
Pronunciation git-ZUNG ti-BEH-ten
Alternate Names Bhotia; Gyantse; Sagka; Sagya; Tsang; Xigatse Tibetan; Xigatse Tibetans; Xigatze; टिबेटन, गठसांग
Population this Country 900
Population all Countries 760,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18698
ROP3 Code 114330
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 40  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Central
900
Western
20
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 40  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 2
  Central 900
  Western 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
100.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tibetan, Central (900 speakers)
Language Code bod   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tibetan, Central (900 speakers)
Language Code bod   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tibetan, Central

Primary Language:  Tibetan, Central

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1862-1991)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1885-1973)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1948-1983)
Bible-NT Audio Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tibetan, Central Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tibetan, Central YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tibetan, Central YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2023  Claudio Zaccherini - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.