Rongba Amdo in China

The Rongba Amdo have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Buddhism (Tibetan)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

For centuries the Amdo roamed the borderlands of the Tibetan-Chinese world. Their menacing reputation struck fear into all who dared to venture, unwelcomed, into their realm.

The Rongba Amdo are part of the Tibetan nationality. The name Rongba means "farmer" in Tibetan. When the communists took over all of Tibet in the 1950s, thousands of Tibetans were butchered. The official Chinese version of these events is markedly different. "This rebellion accelerated the destruction of Tibet's reactionary forces and brought Tibet onto the bright, democratic, and socialist road sooner than expected."

The Rongba Amdo language has two dialects and contains more Chinese loanwords than any other Tibetan language in China. Rongba is only partially intelligible with the three other Amdo languages; however, all Tibetans use the same written script.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Rongba Amdo are largely unconcerned about the outside world. They celebrate the Tibetan New Year in February, according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. In the past, celebrations commenced the moment the peach tree blossomed. It is a time for relatives to get together and celebrate the past year's events.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Rongba Amdo adhere to Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Tantric Buddhism. "Tantra's most striking feature is its technique of occult visualization. The tantric master gives each student a deity which the student has to visualize. These deities, most of which appear in wrathful or monstrous forms, are supposed to be able to help the student achieve liberation. As the student visualizes, he tries to become what he sees, and in fact some Tibetan Buddhists claim to be able to actually materialize demons in front of them."

There are about ten known Christians among the Rongba Amdo today. They have historically proven to be a difficult group to reach with the gospel. The criteria used in the 1920s for missionaries among Tibetan peoples still applies to would-be laborers today: "In sending out missionaries for work among the Tibetans, candidates with a strong constitution should be chosen, as missionary work in Tibet is more strenuous than in most places. Missionaries that are afraid to expose themselves to hardship and even danger should not be sent to Tibet."


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 spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so they can understand and respond to Christ.

Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.

Pray that the Rongba Amdo people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Amdo, Rongba in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Amdo Tibetans

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Amdo, Rongba
People Name in Country Amdo, Rongba
Natural Name Rongba Amdo
Pronunciation Rong-wah Ahm-doe
Alternate Names Amdo; Rongba; Rongpa
Population this Country 162,000
Population all Countries 162,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 18393
ROP3 Code 113986
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 A 1987 report listed 97,600 speakers of the Rongba Amdo language living in eastern Qinghai Province. In many locations in the region the towns are inhabited by Han Chinese and Muslims, while the Rongba Amdo lead nomadic lives in the countryside. The Rongba Amdo primarily live in Hualong, which is an autonomous county of the Hui Muslims; and in Xunhua County, partly administered by members of the Salar minority.   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 A 1987 report listed 97,600 speakers of the Rongba Amdo language living in eastern Qinghai Province. In many locations in the region the towns are inhabited by Han Chinese and Muslims, while the Rongba Amdo lead nomadic lives in the countryside. The Rongba Amdo primarily live in Hualong, which is an autonomous county of the Hui Muslims; and in Xunhua County, partly administered by members of the Salar minority..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Amdo, Rongba in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism (Tibetan)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
99.50 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.49 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tibetan, Amdo (162,000 speakers)
Language Code adx   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Rongba
Dialect Code 6955   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tibetan, Amdo (162,000 speakers)
Language Code adx   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Rongba
Dialect Code 6955   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tibetan, Amdo
Photo Source Jared Kachurak 
Map Source People Group location: Asia Harvest. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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