Collision of two continental plates gave birth to the Tibetan Plateau. As this part of the world used to be the bottom of an ancient ocean, rocks could be found wherever you want to find them.

And the Tibetans can tell many stories behind these rocks which they think also have life.

Legend has it that, long long ago, on a mountain slope nearby a Tibetan village there was a stone slab, which was irregularly rectangular in shape. One stonemason thought it could be cut into two so as to be used in a different purpose.

As the cutting produced a deafening sound and, believe it or not, it bled. One part of the slab hit the stonemason and killed him.

From the shape of the two parts of the stone slab, others found it was formed by a couple. As the stonemason damaged their quiet life, they killed him.

In the areas inhabited by people of the Tibetan ethnic group, many stones are thought to be holy. A case in point is the stones piled up to form the Mani stone mounds.

When ritual walkers reach a Mani stone mound, they would touch the stones with foreheads, and recite Six-Syllable Prayer in mind before putting them onto the mound. Gradually, a Mani stone mound gains height and many Mani stone mounds get connected to become a Mani stone wall.

Some of the stones are carved with sutra lines, statues of Buddha or Six-Syllable Prayer. With the elapse of time, some parts of these mounds are covered with grass or moss.

Many say these stones constitute the symbol of the Tibetan race and could be likened to writing papers used by the predecessors of the Tibetans today. Such a statement show stones that form the Mani stone mounds and stone artifacts unearthed in these areas (including stone chisels, stone knives and stone cutting or cooking tools), walls and monasteries built with stones in areas inhabited by people of the Tibetan ethnic group are carriers of the Tibetan history.

People of the Tibetan ethnic group also worship stone, believing that white stone is the cream of snow-capped mountains and the holy guardians of their houses.

In the Xigaze area, the male work to dispel ghosts from the 19th day of the 12th Tibetan month until the advent of the Tibetan New Year.

Their mothers and wives would greet them behind their houses when they come back home after the mission.

Each man would bring back home a "holy stone" which is a piece of white stone to his mother.

And the mother would ask his son "Where do you come from?"　

"I come back from where I like the most."

"I have treasures. Where are you going now?"

"I am going to a place filled with happiness."

With the end of the ritual, the son presents the piece of stone to his mother who would cover it with butter sculpture and leave it in front of the statues of deities in the house.

The Tibetans will place several pieces of white stones in wheat fields or use white stone to form a swastika sign in pray for a bumper harvest.

The Tibetans will also place some white stones on the roofs of their houses or in their courtyards. They believe that white stones represent the incarnation of daughter of the dragon king and the holy maid. Their presence will help dispel evils.

Some Tibetans also use stone to serve as a kind of jewelry. Tibetan men and women will be often seen to have one or two stones dangling in front of their chests. Rare kind of stones are considered to be the holiest. This is why many Tibetans wear rare stones as earrings, rings or waist belt adornments to keep off evils.