Choni in China

Introduction / History

More than 100,000 Choni (pronounced 'Joe-nee ') Tibetans inhabit Jone (Zhuoni) and Lintan counties in the south-western part of Gansu Province in western China, 'and east from there in the Bawa area of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture '. A small number live in adjacent parts of northern Sichuan Province. Some publications have incorrectly given their location as the Yunnan-Tibet border. This group's name was previously spelled Choni, and they still appear in many publications by that name. The Tao River flows through Jone County.

In 1928 the explorer Joseph Rock discovered the Choni Tibetans. He wrote, 'I—in common with some 300 million Chinese and perhaps as many foreigners— was totally unaware of the existence of the Choni [Jone Tibetans].' A more recent source explains that although the Chinese government officially considers them part of the Tibetan nationality, 'the people of this tribe have their own way of life. Due to their complex tribal structure, their lifestyle, customs, housing and costumes are visibly different from those of most Tibetans, making them a unique branch.

Jone was the site of an independent Tibetan kingdom until 1928, when Chinese General Fengyu Shang stripped the prince of his title and confiscated his land. A detailed history of the Jone appeared in a 1928 National Geographic article: 'The prince represents the twenty-second generation but is not of direct descent. His ancestors, a Tibetan official family, left their own country and made their way across Sichuan and the Min Shan Range...to the Tao River in 1404, conquering and pacifying the tribes and villages on the way. Upon informing the Imperial Court in [Beijing] of their conquest of the territory for the Chinese Empire, they were made hereditary chiefs of Choni and the subjugated tribal lands. At the same time the Emperor, Yung Lo, gave them a seal and the Chinese name Yang.' Today many Jone Tibetans still have the surname Yang.

What Are Their Lives Like?

As the tribe's women sport a hair-do with three thick plaits, locals call them Sangemao in the local Chinese dialect, literally meaning "three bundles of hair."

What Are Their Beliefs?

Jone formerly contained a huge Buddhist monastery, "containing 172 buildings and 3,800 monks at its zenith '. The Jone Tibetans' homes show that they are very religious people. 'On the right side of the sitting room an enclave enshrines the statue of a god accompanied by bamboo arrows wrapped with hada (a long piece of silk used as a greeting gift among Tibetans and Mongolians), scripture scrolls and similar items."

A 1922 mission report stated, 'The prince of Choni alone governs 48 clans and we can easily travel among these clans, as the prince is friendly and would protect us. If we had the workers to employ we would press toward the west from the line we are now occupying.' Today there are about 200 Jone Tibetan believers in Lintan County, to the north-west of Jone County. A church was constructed in 1997—the first ethnic Tibetan fellowship in Gansu Province. 'One woman sold her hair, and another family sold their TV to help build the new church. '

What Are Their Needs?

The Choni people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers in John 10:10.

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.

Text Source:   Joshua Project