Introduction / History For a long period of time before 1949, the Qiang lived in primitive conditions. A feudal landlord economy dominated production. Many of these poor peasants eventually lost their land due to excessive and unfair taxation. They became hired laborers and wandered from place to place to make a living.
Although they belong to the Qiang nationality and speak Qiang, many of the Qiang in Heishui County call themselves Zangzu (Tibetan) in Chinese but R'ma in their own language. Having been acculturated to Tibetan centuries ago, these Qiang no longer view themselves as a distinct people.
Luhua Qiang is one of four distinct varieties of Northern Qiang in China. One researcher has noted, "Although Qiang does not have a large population, their language is divided into many dialects, and they are not intelligible from one to another. Even worse, each village uses a different dialect. It is therefore very difficult to research."
What are their lives like? In their small fields the Luhua Qiang grow corn, red peppers, potatoes, cabbages, beans, and wheat. They also grow a fruit called whadjou. In their mudbrick homes they keep pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and some cattle.
What are their beliefs? White stones are not only representative of Qiang gods but are also a symbol of good fortune. Some Qiang believe that "bringing a white stone into a house on New Year's Day will bring more property. So, when they visit a neighbor or relative they present a white rock and shout 'Property comes!' The host receives it carefully and then welcomes their blessing wholeheartedly by carefully placing it next to the ancestral tablets or the image of a deity."
Foreign missionaries who worked in the Qiang region in the late 1800s recounted this fascinating story of a brief encounter with an unknown tribe: "Years ago a deputation from Ngapa came to Kwanhsien [today's Guanxian County] with a request for pith helmets, guns, and Bibles. Their interest in the gospel, like the order, seemed mixed, but eleven years later, the writer met a Prince from Ngapa who greedily bought up 500 [Scripture] portionettes. 'No,' [the Prince] said, 'they are not for sale. My people are interested in this gospel.'"
This interesting story reflects the interest in the gospel the Qiang people still have today. They are unreached not because they are resistant to the claims of Christ, but rather because few have ever been presented with the gospel in a way they could comprehend it and make an intelligent decision to accept or reject the Savior.
What are their needs? The Luhua Qiang 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 spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so they can understand and respond to Christ.
Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.
Pray that the Luhua Qiang people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them. * Pray for translation of the Bible to begin in this people group's primary language. * Pray for the availability of the Jesus Film in the primary language of this people. * Pray for Gospel messages to become available in audio format for this people group.
The Chinese linguist Liu Guangkun lists a 1990 figure of 14,000 speakers of the Luhua Qiang language living in northwest Sichuan Province in western China. The Luhua Qiang language is spoken in the Luhua, Shashiduo, Yangrong, Zegai, Ergulu, and Zhuogedu districts of Heishui (Black Water) County in the Aba Prefecture. Heishui County had a total population of 58,000 in the 1990 census, of which 49,600 (85.5%) speak Qiang languages. (Source: Operation China, 2000)
JP Unreached of Day
[1] 
