Yonzhi in China

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

Introduction / History

The Yonzhi live as a distinct ethnic group in a remote area that has changed little for hundreds of years. Some consider them to be a part of the Golog, who in turn are officially counted as part of the Tibetan nationality in China.

For countless generations, the Yonzhi have lived simple lives, unaffected by events in the rest of the world. Joseph Rock, the famous botanist and explorer, stumbled across the Yonzhi in 1929. He recalls, "The people were astonished at sight of our party. One asked, 'Why this array of arms and force when visiting our territory?' We continued up the valley to the very foot of Amnyi Druggu, the mountain god of the Yonzhi tribe. A plague cursed the last few tents we passed, the nomads said. The inmates lay dying outside, covered with yak-hair rugs."

Today the Yongzhi people live as nomads in the central provinces of China.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The nomadic Yonzhi live in yak-hair tents and move every few weeks to find new pastures for their yaks, sheep, and goats.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In addition to worshiping Amnyi Druggu, the Yonzhi's Mountain deity, the Yonzhi live in the vicinity of Anye Machen Mountain. They believe it contains a powerful god of the same name. Pictures represent him as a white horse, with the sun and a rainbow to his right and the moon to his left. "All Tibetans worship Anye Machen; every monastery has either a picture or image of him. Anye means 'old man' and corresponds to our 'saint'. Ma means 'peacock' and chen 'great'. In China, if not the world, the Yonzhi are one of the most unreachable people groups. Their region is snowbound for most of the year with temperatures plummeting to minus 40° Celsius (-40°F). The Yonzhi move around frequently, relocating their homes and herds to new pastures. One can only access their communities by foot or horseback. To the Yonzhi, the gospel remains untold. It is possible no Yonzhi has ever heard the name of Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Needs?

Like people everywhere, the Yonzhi 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, Holy Spirit led workers to go to them.

Pray for the Lord to draw Yonzhi hearts to himself.

Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in Yonzhi communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Yonzhi in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permissiopermi


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Amdo Tibetans

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Yonzhi
People Name in Country Yonzhi
Pronunciation Yon-jee
Alternate Names
Population this Country 4,200
Population all Countries 4,200
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18731
ROP3 Code 114366
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 3,000 members of the Yonzhi tribe, a nomadic Tibetan people group, live in a virtually inaccessible area of eastern Qinghai Province. They primarily inhabit the Heha Chen Valley, near the town Tibetans call Cheb Chu. The Yonzhi area lies within Gonghe County, east of the Yellow River. The imposing Anye Machen Mountain range, considered sacred by all Tibetans, lies to the east of the Yonzhi tribe. The highest peak is the 6,282 meter (20,604 ft.) Machen Gangri. In the short summer months the area comes alive with flowers. "Red and blue poppies, bright, fresh, and unharmed, looked happily out of their bed of snow.… The scenery became more and more beautiful as we descended. The little meadows, clearings in the juniper forest, were full of flowers… out in all their glory." The Yonzhi share their homelands with many blue sheep, gazelles, and wolves.   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 3,000 members of the Yonzhi tribe, a nomadic Tibetan people group, live in a virtually inaccessible area of eastern Qinghai Province. They primarily inhabit the Heha Chen Valley, near the town Tibetans call Cheb Chu. The Yonzhi area lies within Gonghe County, east of the Yellow River. The imposing Anye Machen Mountain range, considered sacred by all Tibetans, lies to the east of the Yonzhi tribe. The highest peak is the 6,282 meter (20,604 ft.) Machen Gangri. In the short summer months the area comes alive with flowers. "Red and blue poppies, bright, fresh, and unharmed, looked happily out of their bed of snow.… The scenery became more and more beautiful as we descended. The little meadows, clearings in the juniper forest, were full of flowers… out in all their glory." The Yonzhi share their homelands with many blue sheep, gazelles, and wolves..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Primary Religion: Buddhism (Tibetan)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
60.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
40.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tibetan, Amdo (4,200 speakers)
Language Code adx   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tibetan, Amdo (4,200 speakers)
Language Code adx   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tibetan, Amdo
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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