Sherpa October 29 ➤ Location: The Sherpa, despite being a region.”7 A Chinese relatively small group, are one of the account states, “They most well-known peoples of Asia. believe themselves to Approximately 50,000 Sherpa live on be descendants of both sides of the Himalayan Range. In Tibetans from the Tibet, the exact Sherpa population is Kangba region in uncertain. Various publications have Sichuan Province. listed “a mere 400 in China’s Many, many years ago, territory,”1 “800 speakers in China,”2 their ancestors, and “no more than 1,000.”3 The returning from a Sherpa in Tibet inhabit parts of pilgrimage to Buddhist Dinggye, Tingri, and Zhangmu temples in India and counties. Tingri County is directly on Nepal, settled down the road from Katmandu to Lhasa, a here.”8 route frequented by many tour groups during the summer months. Customs: To many, the name Sherpa is Identity: The Sherpa in Tibet have irretrievably linked to been officially included as part of the the mystique of Mount Tibetan nationality. The Chinese are Everest, the highest conducting an investigation to see if mountain on earth. The they should be classified as a distinct first men to climb group. The name Sherpa means Mount Everest were Paul Hattaway “eastern people.” “They are New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Buddhist statue and to recite or chant distinguishable from Tibetans in part Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Numerous scriptures is all they do by way of because their faces are smaller and Sherpa guides have since led foreign religious practice.”10 they wear a colorful apron on their climbing teams up the world’s highest backside rather than the front.”4 peak. The Sherpa charge around Christianity: In 1985 a Sherpa boy in US$2,000 per expedition, making Nepal had a vision where he was Language: Because the Sherpa them one of the wealthiest groups in visited by Jesus. The boy’s conversion language is related to Tibetan, most Nepal.9 The Sherpa in China cremate was followed by the gradual can communicate in a simple form of their dead, as opposed to the conversion of his extended family and Tibetan.5 Few of the 20,000 Sherpa in Tibetans who practice wind burial. The several families in his village. The boy the Darjeeling area of India are still Gyawa Festival takes place 49 days later went to Bible school and able to speak the Sherpa language.6 after the death of a loved one. The returned to pastor the local church in Sherpa eat as much food as they can his village.11 There are reported to be History: It is believed that all Sherpa during the festival, believing the food a few dozen Christian Sherpas around once lived in Tibet before their will nourish the loved one who has the Mt. Everest region in Nepal.12 descendants migrated west in the died. Despite this wonderful breakthrough, fifteenth century. “At that time, a there are no known Sherpa Christians Mongol King attempted to force them Religion: The Sherpa are Tibetan in China. They are politically and to convert to his sect of Buddhism. Buddhists, although “with far less geographically isolated from contact The people fled to the Khumbu piety than the Tibetans. To have… a with their counterparts in Nepal.13 Overview of the Language: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Bodic, Bodish, Status of Evangelization Sherpa Tibetan, Southern Tibetan 86% TIBET Countries: Nepal, India, China Dialects: 0 •Lhasa •Xigaze Pronunciation: “Sher-pah” Religion: •Gyirong •Gamba Other Names: Sharpa, Sharpa Tibetan Buddhism, Shamanism Cona• Bhotia, Xiaerba, Xiarba, Serwa Christians: None known NEPAL BHUTAN 14% Population Source: 800 0% Scale Scripture: 0 KM 160 (1996 B. Grimes – 1994 figure); Portions 1977; Work in progress Out of a total Tibetan population A B C Population in China: of 4,593,330 (1990 census); Jesus film: None 800 (1994) 29,000 in Nepal Gospel Recordings: A = Have never heard the gospel 910 (2000) (1993 P. Johnstone); Twerpa #04242 B = Were evangelized but did not become Christians 1,120 (2010) 21,000 in India (1995) Sherpa: Solukhumbu #00673 Sherpa Helumbu #02708 C = Are adherents to any form of Location: Tibet Location: S Tibet: Dinggye, Tingri, Christianity Religion: Tibetan Buddhism and Zhangmu counties in Xigaze Christian Broadcasting: None Christians: None Known Prefecture ROPAL code: SCR00 Status: Officially included under Tibetan 482 SHERPA.