The Tuva in China are a diaspora group who migrated to their present location in the early 1800s. Although the Tuva were "discovered" as a distinct people by the Chinese authorities in 1986, they are still officially classified as part of the Mongolian nationality.
The Tuva in China separated from the main Tuva population in the early 1800s, when a group migrated to the Altai region of Xinjiang. Today their language is different from Tuva in Russia and Mongolia, and they have become their own distinct people group. In the late 1800s the Tuva in China started to call themselves Mongolians "to avoid oppression by the then ruling Qing Dynasty, and to enjoy the favored status of the Mongolians, who were allies of the Manchurian court." Tuva was declared an independent state by the Tzarist government in Russia in 1912; at the same time Mongolia gained independence from China. Freedom was short-lived however. Tuva became a Russian protectorate in 1914.
The Tuva do not live in yurts as do the Mongolians, "but in square houses built of logs with a roof plastered with thick mud." Chinese scholars note that the Tuva "speak Mongolian with outsiders and have adopted many of the manners and customs of the surrounding Mongolian tribes, but they speak their own Turkic language among themselves."
The Tuva in all three of the countries they inhabit adhere to Tibetan Buddhism. They were converted by Tibetan missionaries in the 1700s, although shamans and mediums are still active among the Tuva communities in China. Most Tuva youth in China now consider themselves atheists.
Very few Tuva in China have ever heard the name of Christ. The situation among the Tuva in Russia is better, with a reported "registered evangelical churches." One Tuva believer in Russia was recently martyred. His death was reported on television, causing a growth of interest in the gospel among many people. One Christian handed a Mongolian New Testament to a Tuva girl in China. "She started reading and wouldn't let up, walking away towards the hills with her treasure."
The Tuva people need to accept the warm embrace of the only Savior so they can enjoy spiritually meaningful lives.
Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.
Pray for signs and wonders to happen among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.
Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.
Scripture Prayers for the Tuvan in China.
Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Tuvan |
People Name in Country | Tuvan |
Alternate Names | Altai Tuva; Altai Uriangkhai; Diba; Monchak; Monjak; Mungak; Shor; Soyod; Soyon; Soyot; Tokha; Tuba; Tuvin; Tuvinian; Tuwa; Urinkhai; Uryangkhai |
Population this Country | 4,300 |
Population all Countries | 342,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 15668 |
ROP3 Code | 110333 |
ROP25 Code | 308403 |
ROP25 Name | Tuvinian |
Country | China | ||
Region | Asia, Northeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 16 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | The Tuva inhabit the region where Russia, Mongolia and China intersect. The majority reside in the Tuva Republic of Russia, radiating out from the capital of Kyzl. Many also live in north-west Mongolia, especially in the Hovsgol and Hovd Aimags, and a small number reside in the Xingiang Region of north-west China. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Country | China |
Region | Asia, Northeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 16 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | The Tuva inhabit the region where Russia, Mongolia and China intersect. The majority reside in the Tuva Republic of Russia, radiating out from the capital of Kyzl. Many also live in north-west Mongolia, especially in the Hovsgol and Hovd Aimags, and a small number reside in the Xingiang Region of north-west China.. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Religion Subdivision: | Tibetan |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
85.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
5.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
10.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Tuvan (4,300 speakers) |
Language Code | tyv Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Tuvan (4,300 speakers) |
Language Code | tyv Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Tuvan |
Primary Language: Tuvan
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1996) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2002) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2011-2017) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | 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 |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Tuva | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | Magdalena video | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or 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: Tuvan | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Tuvan | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | IBT, Russia - resources | Institute for Bible Translation - Russia |
Photo Source | zoetnet - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | Bethany World Prayer Center |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |