Kyerung in China

People Name:	Kyerung
Country:	China
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	8,400
World Population:	12,100
Primary Language:	Kyerung
Primary Religion:	Buddhism
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Unspecified
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Buddhist
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The seventh and eighth centuries saw a rapid increase in the Tibetan empire. Tibet's rule extended into Kashmir, China, Turkestan, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, and northern Burma. In 1788 the Tibetans turned to the Chinese for military assistance when they were being besieged by an invading Gurkha army from Nepal. After this, Chinese influence in Tibet increased greatly.

The Kyerung are ethnic Tibetans and have been officially counted as part of the Tibetan nationality in China; however, they speak their own language, unintelligible with other Tibetan varieties. The Kyerung make up a significant portion of the 60,000 or more Tibetans in Nepal. The Kyerung are not the same as the Jiarong people of Sichuan Province, although when pronounced in Tibetan the two names sound similar.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kyerung are willing to accept other people's beliefs. They have a greeting, Tashiteleg, which means "I recognize the divine qualities in you." Traditionally a man can marry two sisters, or several brothers may share the same wife (although this is now only practiced in remote communities).

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kyerung, like all Tibetan ethnic groups, zealously follow Tibetan Buddhism.

There are no known Christian believers among the Kyerung in either Tibet or Nepal. Faithful workers are needed like William E. Simpson, an American missionary to Tibet, who was martyred in 1932. Simpson summarized his life when he wrote, "Are not all the trials, the loneliness, the heartache, the weariness and pain, the cold and fatigue of the long road, the darkness and discouragements, and all the bereavements, temptations and testings, deemed not worthy to be compared with the joy of witnessing to this 'glad tidings of great joy'?"

What Are Their Needs?

Without the guidance of Christ, these people are like sheep without a shepherd. They need the good shepherd in their families and communities.

Prayer Points

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.