Tibetan, Gtsang November 18 Location: Almost 600,000 Tibetans second most belong to the Gtsang Tibetan dialect powerful ruler after group. They are located in a wide the Dalai Lama. In geographical area, stretching east to 1954 the city was west over roughly the entire length of nearly destroyed by the Tibet-Nepal border. Gtsang is floods. After putting spoken in the cities of Xigaze and down a revolt in Gyantse, the second and fourth 1959, the Chinese largest cities in Tibet. The main imprisoned 400 attraction of Gyantse is the immense monks in the pagoda, or Kumbun, built by Rapten Tashilhunpo Kunsang Phapa (1389–1442). Monastery. Identity: The Gtsang Tibetans are part Customs: The of the Tibetan nationality, but they Xigaze New Year speak a language only partly Festival is held in intelligible with other Tibetan varieties. the first week of the Captain O’Conner, the British trade 12th lunar month. agent at Gyantse in the early 1900s, Thousands of described the Gtsang Tibetans as visitors have flocked “superstitious indeed to the last to Gyantse since degree, but devoid of any deep-rooted 1408 for the annual religious convictions or heart- Horse Racing and searchings, oppressed by the most Archery Show. monstrous growth of monasticism and Paul Hattaway priest-craft which the world has ever Religion: The Gtsang region is home Christianity: Jesuit missionary seen.”1 to several Buddhist sects, including Antonio de Andrade arrived in Tibet the Nyingmapa (Ancient), Kagyupa from India in 1624 by disguising Language: Gtsang Tibetan — which (Oral Transmission), and Sakya (Gray himself as a Hindu pilgrim. “Andrade has 19 dialects2 — is a variety of Earth) schools. After the death of the outwitted hostile local officials, made Central Tibetan. It is largely intelligible Panchen Lama in 1989, the Chinese his way north to the Himalayas, with Lhasa and Ngahri Tibetan. filled his position with their own endured altitude sickness and snow Despite their differences in speech, choice of successor. In May 1995 the blindness, fought his way over a all Tibetans use the same Sanskrit- exiled Dalai Lama announced a new 17,900-foot pass into Tibet, and based orthography. In the seventh Panchen Lama who was immediately finally reached Tsaparang.… There he century, King Songtsen Gampo sent rejected by the Chinese. Monks at the impressed the king and queen with his minister, Thonmi Sambhota, with a Tashilhunpo Monastery, and a number his piety, and they gave him delegation to India where he produced of lay Tibetans, rioted in protest. permission to return, establish a the script. Eighty monks were interrogated by the mission, and preach the Gospel.”3 A police, and the city of Xigatse was revolution in Tsaparang in 1635 History: Xigaze, the capital of Tibet sealed off for several days. Tensions abruptly ended the Jesuit mission. from 1618 to 1642, is the traditional have remained high since then. Today there are just a handful of seat of the Panchen Lama, Tibet’s Gtsang Tibetan Christians. Overview of the Language: Sino-Tibetan, TIBET Tibeto-Burman, Bodic, Bodish, Status of Evangelization •Gerze Gtsang Tibetans Tibetan, Central Tibetan 92% Countries: China, Nepal, India Dialects (19): Dolpo, Reng •Coqen Burang •Xainza Pronunciation: “Git-zung” Pungmo, Tichurong, Kag, Lo, Nar, INDIA • Other Names: Xigatse Tibetan, Gyasumdo, Nubri, Tsum, Kachad, NEPAL Xigatze, Gyantse, Sagya, Tsang Langtang, Kagate, Jirel, Halung, Kyidgrong, Dingri, Zhiskartse, Population Source: Gyalrtse, Nadkarrtse 7% Scale 457,700 (1987 LAC); 1% 0 KM 400 Out of a total Tibetan population Religion: Tibetan Buddhism, Bon Population in China: of 4,593,330 (1990 census); Christians: 20 A B C 457,700 (1987) 50,000 in Nepal Scripture: Tibetan Bible 1948; (1987 D. Bradley); Also in India A = Have never heard the gospel 595,700 (2000) New Testament 1885 B = Were evangelized but did not 733,900 (2010) Location: S Tibet: A large area Jesus film: None become Christians roughly north of the entire length C = Are adherents to any form of Location: Tibet Gospel Recordings: None Religion: Tibetan Buddhism of Nepal, including Xigaze and Christianity Christian Broadcasting: None Christians: 20 Gyantse counties Status: ROPAL code: TIC01 Officially included under Tibetan TIBETAN, GTSANG 513.