Tsoten(མཚོ་ཁྲི།) - Ten Thousand Lakes
In Tsoten (མཚོ་ཁྲི།), at 4,600 meters in Yushu, to protect wildlife, nomads gave up their pastures and left their homes. They chose another way to continue the spirit of nomadism.
At the invitation of the village secretary, the Sanjiangyuan Ecological and Environmental Protection Association returned to Tsoten in 2019, to work on conservation and sustainable development. Volunteer designers Lin Quan and Xing Zhen from the Sanjiangyuan Design Alliance came to Tsoten, helping to rejuvenate the nomads' craft.
Tablet Weaving
Tablet weaving is an ancient Tibetan craft used to make sturdy decorative bands. In the weaving process, the tablets function like heddles in a loom guiding the warp threads. By increasing the number of tablets, the width of the woven band increases.
Today, tablet weaving is gradually fading away. We are committed to reviving it, safeguarding the essence of nomadic culture.
The nomads once measured the earth with their footsteps. Now they weave the colors of the pastures with their hands. It is a spiritual anchor and an attitude of living fearlessly in the face of impermanence.
Whatever way of life they face, they meet it with resilience and optimism - living by hand, passing on nomadic culture.
The woven motifs are mostly traditional auspicious and geometric patterns, symbolizing good fortune, representing wisdom, compassion, and courage.
A rich blend of colors taken from Tibet: The depth of Guge murals, the vitality of barley fields; The splendor of crimson and golden roofs, the serenity of Mount Kailash.
Members of the Tsoten Cooperative
Some elders are living with disabilities or have family members with disabilities, requiring medical care and assistance. Others, due to age, can no longer endure the demanding life of herding, and thus reside long-term in relocation villages.
They are all nomads who once voluntarily safeguarded the ecology of the Sanjiangyuan region. They cherish the hope of passing on their nomadic culture, while also wishing to sustain themselves through the work of their own hands.
With their hands, they weave - threading time and experience into each cord. The colors come from the plateau; the patterns carry memory. These works connect the nomadic people of this vast land. Their way of living with all beings will be carried on.
Written by charuhimalaya
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