Tibetan, Shanyan in China

Introduction / History

People living in the extraordinarily remote Shanyan District of Baiyu County in China's Sichuan Province belong to the little-known Shanyan Tibetan ethnic group. The Chinese government does not differentiate between the Shanyan Tibetans and the main Tibetan nationality. The Tibetan name for Shanyan means 'rough terrain '.
The Shanyan Tibetans are culturally, ethnically and linguistically different from the Khampa Tibetans who also live in this remote region. When talking about his ancestors, a Shanyan Tibetan named Dorji Wengxiong said, 'We came from areas on the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River in present-day Nghari Prefecture in Tibet. We are Tibetans and not local Khampa people. Our ancestors kept moving east until they came to the Jinsha River. So far, we have lived here for 40 to 50 generations.' Although historically the Shanyan Tibetans came from far western Tibet, their present home is a vast distance of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 mi.) from their original homeland. The hundreds of years of separation have resulted in the Shanyan Tibetans evolving into a distinct people group with a language no longer intelligible with Nghari Tibetan varieties. It was not until October 1910 that the Shanyan Tibetans finally came under Chinese rule.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Shanyan Tibetans are Buddhists of the Nyima sect. They "seldom invite lamas to chant sutras for them, as is required for religious events in other areas. Instead, they do it themselves while drinking. In old times, before setting off for a battle, all adult males would gather to slaughter an ox, drink and chant sutras. After drinking, they took an oath. Then, with a string of prayer beads or a pebble, they practiced divination to predicate their luck in the battle."

What Are Their Beliefs?

Like people everywhere, the Shanyan Tibetans people need to allow the loving savior to direct their lives. They need his forgiveness for sin.

What Are Their Needs?

The Shanyan Tibetans are completely unreached by the gospel. They pose one of the greatest challenges of any Buddhist group in the world today.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.
Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.
Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.

Text Source:   Joshua Project