Unreached Peoples: The Khamba Tibetan People — Paul Hattaway

The Land and Peoples of Tibet

Tibet, a land of stunning beauty, with the Earth's tallest mountains, a high, vast plateau, and great river valleys. The Khamba are one of three major Tibetan peoples, along with the Amdo and Central Tibetans.

Their ancient homeland of Kham lies in the heart of Asia and covers territory in four provinces of China, as well as the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The freedom-loving Khamba are known as the Warriors of Tibet.

Khamba Culture, Livelihood, and Hospitality

Yet these same fierce fighters are also warm and cheerful, faithful friends who are generous and hospitable. Approximately three-fourths of the 1 .7 million Khamba are farmers. Their region is known as the Red Basket of Tibet.

About 20 of the Khamba are nomadic, moving with their herds of yak, sheep, and goats from one pasture to another across the plateau. A smaller percentage of Khamba live in cities, where they work side-by-side with the Chinese who govern their land.

The Summer Festival and Tibetan Heritage

Yet the unquenchable Kham spirit lives on. The highlight of the year is the Summer Festival, a time when Khamba celebrate their cultural heritage. With elaborate costumes and graceful movements, they present a colorful pageant of traditional Tibetan dancing.

Khamba horsemen demonstrate their bravery and prowess. Yak races add a humorous note to the festivities. No celebration is complete without the participation of the monks and lamas from the local monasteries.

Tibetan Buddhism and the Pursuit of Merit

Khambas are devout Tibetan Buddhists whose religion permeates every aspect of their lives. Tibetan Buddhists believe in the law of karma, which says that every action has a consequence. Good deeds earn merit, bad deeds demerit.

Most Kham Tibetans spend their lives in an endless quest for merit. They walk for hours around sacred sites and temples, spinning prayer wheels containing thousands of written prayers, which they believe multiply their efforts.

Fear of the Spirit World and Rebirth

People bow and prostrate themselves in front of holy places or idols. They make religious pilgrimages to sacred locations. The longer and more difficult the trip, the better. But what happens if at the end of a person's life, the bad deeds outweigh the good?

That person will be reborn into the lower realms, perhaps as a beggar, a dog, a worm, or even a ghost. In spite of their fierce reputation, the average Kham Tibetan lives in constant fear of the spirit world.

The Khamba as an Unreached People

Most of the 1 .7 million Khampa have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. They represent one of the last frontiers of world mission. Yet the Tibetan world is more accessible for Christian witness today than at any time in recent history.

Prayer for the Khamba to Worship God

In the Bible, God promises that a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language will be worshiping Him in heaven. Will you pray with Christians around the world that this would become a reality for the Kham Tibetans?