Thami in China


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

It is not known how the Thami in Tibet were classified in the Chinese census. The physical appearance of the Thami suggest they are of Mongoloid descent. In Tibet it is possible the Thami are known by a different name. It may be the Thami in Tibet are simply known as "Nepalese" to the local people. One publication comments on Zhangmu Township: "Crossing a bridge over the boundary river, you set foot [in Tibet]. Some, such as the Nepalese, have settled down here."

The Thami language is one of the few from the so-called Eastern Himalayish linguistic family. It is related to the Baraamu language of Nepal. Thami, which is not a written language, is still spoken in all Thami homes in Nepal, while the national Nepalese language is used for communication with other people groups.

Legend states that the first Thami couple had seven sons and seven daughters. In order to find suitable marriage partners for all of them, they were allowed to intermarry with other tribes.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Thami men are employed as stonecutters. Many Thami women wear large gold earrings and nose rings. Some still wear traditional labaedas, clothing made from plants that are beaten and woven together. The main diet of the Thami is fish and a porridge made with maize flour. Despite their poverty, the Thami willingly go into debt in order to host an elaborate feast or celebration. These festivals add color and variety to their otherwise mundane existence.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Thami are animists, but many Hindu influences are intermingled with their beliefs. Three days after the birth of a child, the house is cleaned with cow dung and water. The people are sprinkled with cow urine to purify them. The baby is then named in accordance with the day of birth. Those Thami in Tibet who are Hindus are possibly the only practicing Hindus in all of China apart from Indians in Hong Kong.

Twenty to thirty Thami in Nepal received Christ in 1993 after listening to gospel recordings in their language. Christian workers reported an "open heaven" as the Thami in Nepal eagerly received the message of salvation. The Thami believers meet in a small church. In 1997 an elderly Thami Buddhist monk in Nepal was visited by a missionary, whose arrival was expected. He explained, "I had a vision two years ago that a foreigner would come and give me a little golden book about the truth. I have been praying and watching each day. I know you are that man." Those inside Tibet have so far been cut off from receiving evangelists. Few have ever heard of Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Needs?

Like people everywhere, the Thami people need to allow the loving Savior to direct their lives. They need his forgiveness for sin.


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.


Scripture Prayers for the Thami in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Thami
People Name in Country Thami
Pronunciation TAH-mee
Alternate Names Thangmi; थमी
Population this Country 600
Population all Countries 38,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15461
ROP3 Code 110002
ROP25 Code 308110
ROP25 Name Thami
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 More than 20,000 Thami live in and around the town of Dolakha in eastern Nepal. Several hundred Thami also live in Zhangmu County, on the Tibetan side of the border. The Thami were originally a nomadic tribe who settled just east of Katmandu, Nepal. In recent years many Thami men have migrated to India to seek employment.   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 More than 20,000 Thami live in and around the town of Dolakha in eastern Nepal. Several hundred Thami also live in Zhangmu County, on the Tibetan side of the border. The Thami were originally a nomadic tribe who settled just east of Katmandu, Nepal. In recent years many Thami men have migrated to India to seek employment..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Religion Subdivision: Tibetan
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
55.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
45.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Thangmi
Language Code thf   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Thami
Dialect Code 4174   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Thangmi
Language Code thf   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Thami
Dialect Code 4174   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Thangmi

Primary Language:  Thangmi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2019)
Bible-Complete No
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Thangmi Jesus Film Project
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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