The Mani stones found in different sizes can be seen often in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Those who are engaged in carving of the stones are getting down on their knees and bowing their head with both hands doing the carvings using the hammers. They can also handle the stones in their hands, flexibly and skillfully making the needed textures using electric tools. Amongst them, there are faithful monks, there are also folk artists who earn the living by doing Mani stone carvings. The 48 year-old Tsering Nenme is one of those folk artists. 

Coming from the Changjiangyuan Village of the Golmud City of Qinghai Province, Tsering Nenme has been engaged in the carving for 6 years. He said, “when I first studied carving, I had to paint the texture using a pencil, later on, I mostly relied on my feeling and experience including those regarding selecting stones, carving, color painting and drying. As long as you do it with heart, every time a stone carved is a time you make the pilgrimage, and finish a round of chanting sutras.”

For Tsering Nenme, studying carving is not only learning some skill for earning the living, it is rather a method of expressing one’s feelings.

He said that the “six-syllabled Sanskrit mantra” is the belief that carved in his heart that he prefers to create relying on his innermost willingness. By doing this, every piece of stone will carry a feeling yet not being limited to a certain formality. Compared with standardized Mani stones, those that are carved by Tsering Nenme are more diverse and natural looking including some 30-centimeter big elliptical pieces as well as some small heart-shaped or round-shaped Mani stones that are less than 10 centimeters large.

The “Mani” words originate from the Six-syllabled Sanskrit mantra, namely “Om mani padme hum”, the stones that are carved with “mani” are called “Mani stones”. Faithful believers believe that the Mani stones will bring good luck and auspiciousness to people.