Sharchop in Bhutan

The Sharchop have only been reported in Bhutan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Wedged between the Himalayas of India, Tibet, and China is the world's only Buddhist kingdom, the country of Bhutan. The Sharchop live in this tiny country, which is also known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon," due to the violent Himalayan thunderstorms. The Sharchop live in southeastern Bhutan, south of Tashigang, in the thick forests where there is less rainfall.

The Sharchop are part of the Tibeto-Burman culture that influenced Bhutan from the East. They refer to themselves as Bhutanese and are racially Mongoloid, like the northern Bhutanese. However, their distinctive cultural traits clearly link them with the peoples of Tibet, Burma, and Yunnan, China. Their language is called Tsangla and is part of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Bhutan depends heavily on India for assistance and foreign trade. With new roads being built between Bhutan and India, many Sharchop are learning to speak Assamese and Hindi, as they come into closer contact with the people of India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Sharchop are part of an agricultural society and often use a "slash and burn" method of farming. Since dense plant growth limits the use of land for agricultural purposes, they clear the land by burning the vegetation. They grow dry rice on it for three or four years, then abandon it when the soil is exhausted. Some groups, however, have settled permanently in large clearings in the forests.

Sharchop houses are made of stone and wood, and are usually built on stilts in dispersed settlements along the mountain slopes. Larger settlements have monasteries called dzongs, where prayer flags and prayer wheels are a common sight.

A local variety of cattle known as mithun is a valued form of wealth and is sacrificed at religious ceremonies. Pigs and goats are also raised to sell and to use as sacrifices.

Water pollution is one of the most significant environmental problems in Bhutan, as most of the rural population does not have a pure water supply. If good water is scarce in a settlement, water from a nearby spring or stream is piped in through bamboo conduits. The majority of Bhutan's people live without electricity, since much of its power is exported over the hills to India. Because of the difficult mountainous terrain, many remote areas can expect a long wait for power. Rural citizens pay little or no taxes, but they are obligated to work without pay on government projects, such as building local schools and roads.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Tibetan Buddhism exercises considerable influence in Bhutan, and Buddhist priests are often supported by the community. However, the Sharchop have also retained the popular beliefs and practices of their ethnic religion.

As in Tibet, sacred inscriptions are written on prayer flags and planted near each house, and prayer wheels containing sacred syllables are kept in continuous motion as the Sharchop walk or rest. Illness is always believed to be caused by the devil or spirits. Lamas (spiritual leaders) read from the Buddhist scriptures to expel them.

In addition, elements of shamanism (the belief that there is an unseen world of many gods, demons, and ancestral spirits) are reflected in magical ceremonies. Omens and demons are believed to have direct influence on life. Every village has its shibdag, or "god of the soil," which must constantly be appeased, and each house has its god, tab-lha, who must not be offended.


What Are Their Needs?

Bhutan did not open its doors to tourism until 1974 and still restricts the number of tourists that may visit each year. Although they recently allowed Pepsi Cola to enter the country, there is still a ban on satellite television in an attempt to protect what the monarchy calls a "fragile culture." This repressive government does not want exposure to Westerners and, especially, to other religions.


Prayer Points

Ps. 4:7 - let the light of Your face shine upon them! Hope, peace for the nation. God allowed the nation to be closed. Now open and let there be light into this nation and truth. May there be a festival of praise and giving honour to God.
Romans 4:13 - It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes through faith.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into Bhutan. Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will break up the soil through worship and intercession.
Pray for the speedy completion of evangelistic materials into the Tsangla language.
Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Sharchop Christians.
Pray that God will open the hearts of Bhutan's governmental leaders to the Gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Sharchop.


Scripture Prayers for the Sharchop in Bhutan.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Sharchop
People Name in Country Sharchop
Alternate Names Bhotia; Bhotia, Eastern; Central Monba; Cona Monba; Cuona Monba; Eastern Bhutanese; Memba; Mompa; Monba; Sangla; Sarchapkkha; Sharchagpakha; Sharcrop; Sharshokpa; Southern Monba; Tsangla; Tshalingpa; शारछोप
Population this Country 68,000
Population all Countries 68,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11685
ROP3 Code 102831
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Most live in the eastern Himalayan Range, and the largest numbers are located in eastern and south-eastern Bhutan, especially in Trashigang and Dungsam. A substantial number also live in neighboring parts of Arunachal Pradesh, India, especially in the Tawang and Kameng districts. Some also live in Chinese Tibet, particularly in Cona County.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States on file 4
Largest States
Southern
40,000
Central
16,000
Eastern
11,000
Western
1,400
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Most live in the eastern Himalayan Range, and the largest numbers are located in eastern and south-eastern Bhutan, especially in Trashigang and Dungsam. A substantial number also live in neighboring parts of Arunachal Pradesh, India, especially in the Tawang and Kameng districts. Some also live in Chinese Tibet, particularly in Cona County..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States 4
  Southern 40,000
  Central 16,000
  Eastern 11,000
  Western 1,400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
99.85 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.15 %)
0.15 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tshangla (68,000 speakers)
Language Code tsj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tshangla (68,000 speakers)
Language Code tsj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tshangla

Primary Language:  Tshangla

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2000)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2014-2023)
Bible-Complete No
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tshangla Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tshangla YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tshangla YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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