Introduction / History

Until recently the Lhoba were a virtually unknown people. Because they have no written script, the Lhoba have no record of where they originated. In the past they tied strings around their wrists or notched marks in wood to remind them of important things they needed to do.

Yidu is a distinct language that differs from Bogar Lhoba, which is spoken by members of the same minority group farther to the east of the Yidu. The Yidu have been combined with the Bogar and Adi to form the official Lhoba nationality in Tibet. However, the Chinese government's 1990 census findings of only 2,312 Lhoba do not match the figures of independent linguists and researchers who report a minimum of 10,000 Lhoba in China.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Lhoba marriages take place sometime within the full moon days of September to December. "On that day ... the bride and groom take a sip from their own bowls first and then exchange the bowls and keep on drinking. ...."

What Are Their Beliefs?

For thousands of years the Lhoba have handed down oral traditions about the genesis of the world. Their beliefs form the Lhoba worldview. They say in the beginning the sky was empty, and only the sun, moon, and stars could be seen. The earth was bare, and only the mountains, rivers, and rocks existed. "Maidong (the sky) and Shijin (the earth) sat together trying to break the absolute tranquility that embodied the world. They decided to get married and soon after the earth was pregnant. Their first child, before birth, dissipated into a pool of blood. The blood then changed into rain and nourished the various forms of life on earth. Later on, the earth gave birth to another child who became the ancestor of the Lhoba nationality." To please their Tibetan neighbors, many Yidu Lhoba outwardly adhere to Tibetan Buddhism, but in reality they practice shamanism and spirit appeasement.

The Yidu Lhoba have no awareness of the name of Jesus Christ. There are a few churches in Assam, northern India, among the related Adi people, but no Christians are known to have crossed into the Yidu Lhoba part of Tibet with the gospel.

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.

Scripture Prayers for the Lhoba, Idu in China.

References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission