As a sacred religious activity, Mani stone carving is a popular scene in Tibetan-inhabited areas that have a prosperous religious atmosphere. [Photo/tibetcul.com]

As a sacred religious activity, Mani stone carving is a popular scene in Tibetan-inhabited areas that have a prosperous religious atmosphere.

There are very skillful mendicant monks carving Mani stones for a living and also as a way of preaching Buddhism. Yet, there are also many excellent folk artisans carving Mani stones out of religious piety and for Buddha's blessings to their families.

For the folk artisans, carving one Mani stone means equal merit with a prostration towards Buddha, so the more Mani stones they carve, the more blessings they will receive.

Therefore, the folk artisans are often doing this work with stronger emotions than the mendicant monks.

Generally, the stonemason doesn't draw a draft or sketch. There are no rules. They usually depend on instinct and experience to produce a pattern or scripture characters with natural flow.

It's the intention or idea that counts first during the carving process, followed by the beauty principle.

The only norms for these folk artisans lie in the symbols and physical characteristics of deity such as the props a deity holds, the hats he wears and his standing or hunkering gestures. As long as the artisans could grasp the proportions of such details, they can carve the Mani stones according to their desire.

Thus, different carvers may produce various portraits of the same deity; even the portraits of a deity carved by one artisan can be ever-changing.

Photo shows the bronze prize painting work "Mani Stone Artisan" on the Second "Beauty of Tibet" Painting Contest organized by Tibet.cn this year. For the folk artisans, carving one Mani stone means equal merit with a prostration towards Buddha, so the more Mani stones they carve, the more blessings they will receive. [Photo/China Tibet Online]