For the rock paintings, nearly every corner of Yushu has been marked with his footprints. Now, he’s making some research on the origin of the three rivers, namely, Yangtze River, Lancang River and Yellow River.

The origin areas are mainly located in the origin of Zhiqu River, both sides of which have many rock paintings. Walking will take long hours and cars couldn’t get in. So, they had to walk to different places, even the places where the local hadn’t been.

The paintings’ age is different. For the more ancient painting, it traces back to over 3,200 years ago, which is in Malai of Yushu, a Tibetan-inhabited area. Some paintings are also found in Lhasa.

But the one in Malai has the longest history, over 3,200 years. It features animal patterns and the “卍” symbol and has nothing to do with religions. From this point of view, it indicates that the Tibetan culture originates Bon, according to the rock paintings.

For them, the recorded history and culture of Tibetans are generally related to myths. They hardly study history in a scientific way which is described as archaeology. It rarely happens in the Tibetan-inhabited region. Nearly all history has connections with myths. And there is no scientific research at all.

As to the rock painting, the real objects are there. If they have a clear knowledge of their history,

their Tibetan history will date back to more ancient time. Then when have reasons to say they have a long history. Without proofs, it’s meaningless.

Now, with the rock paintings around them, they can see them, probe them and explore them. And they will tell them Tibetan history in return. So, rock paintings are valuable for them to study the history and culture of Tibetan minority group.

The sacrifice of Lhari is beyond our imagination. Sometimes, he will even take the risk of losing his life by walking in the depopulated zone for an ancient rock painting.

The exhibition this time can be regarded as the best acknowledgment and pay-back of him. However, to our surprise, with all the praise and money gained at the exhibition, he came to a primary school which he never visited before in Yushu. The move is to donate all the money to the school.

It’s said that Lhari has donated all money he gained at the exhibition to a primary school in Yushu.

It related to his career of being a teacher. There are many students living in poor conditions in Yushu.

And in remote mountainous area, many schools have weak infrastructure. Many of his students work as teachers. He is a teacher in the normal university, so most students became teachers.

When communicating with them, he found it hard for the students to live in the remote and poor area.

Then he decided to go and see for himself. When he got there, he found that their life was really different from theirs. So he started to think if he could do something to help them. That’s it.

If he spends the money on his painting, the working condition at least could be improved.

In Lhari’s view, he has stable salary which is enough for him to cover his living costs. With the income from selling thangka paintings added, there isn’t any problem in daily life. Such move is too common and is what he should do. Though he has learned diverse skills and has multiple identities in different fields, he still keeps painting with his passion and perseverance. And his donation to the kids is another indication of his loyalty of being a teacher.

He told us that he think matters most to him on the way to success is love. He neither drinks wine nor gamble. He can’t do nothing when he’s free. So he has to find something to do. He loves painting and studying things. As he finishs one work each time, he will feel happy. Because he’s proud of their grand Tibetan culture. It can bring them much joy and they should inherit and promote it well.

Now, there is an increasing number of people starting to learn the Tibetan traditional paintings, especially in Regong for instance. Some painters of Karma Garzi thangka style are really excellent. They’re young, younger than him. However, on the other hand, there are fewer original Tibetan paintings, for very few people study it at school.

Whatever for the painters or amateurs, they should notice it and spend more efforts on it. Youngsters should make more attempts and work harder. For him, he will do it the same way.

Lhari Gyayang Nyima is a teacher. What he has been doing, however, is not just about teaching. It contains the promotion of culture and inheritance of faith. He draws mountains, rivers, people and his inner world as well.

One reason why he can make a fame is that he draws with his sincerity and enthusiasm. Because of his care for the surrounding things in the world, he could do more things than just being a teacher. His identity doesn’t matter.

Instead, it’s the insistence and perseverance. We need more such people to inherit our culture.

>>Life with thangka paintings I

>> Watch the video interview on Chemi Time, please click here!