Buddha on Fabric and International Awards for Handicrafts: The World Record Carved by Mustang’s Lhamo with Needle and Thread

Mustang — Born in 1986 to an ordinary farming family in the extremely remote village of Chhoser in Mustang, Lhamo Yutron stands established today as one of China’s finest cultural ambassadors.

Having learned the skill of needle and thread from an early age while sitting in the laps of her grandmother and mother, Lhamo formally entered the weaving profession in 2006. Over a span of twenty years, she faced numerous challenges. However, she spurned opportunities to migrate abroad and instead stayed in her own village, persevering with hard work. As a result, she not only preserved the traditional handicraft weaving of Mustang but also secured its honorable place on the list of national-level intangible cultural heritage.

After more than a decade of dedicated practice, Lhamo has mastered the complete set of skills involved in Mustangi weaving, from design creation and color composition to thread selection and the core techniques of weaving itself. She has now been selected as the representative custodian of provincial-level intangible heritage related to weaving arts in Mustang district, as well as being recognized as a provincial-level master of arts and crafts.

Her creations have repeatedly garnered attention on international platforms. In 2010, her ‘Shakyamuni’ artwork won the Bronze Medal at China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition, while the ‘Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara’ pattern was honored with the ‘China Arts and Crafts Cultural Innovation Award’ at an international cultural products fair.

The innovative cultural products she researched and developed, such as fragrant pouches and hanging ornaments made from Mustangi weave, won the Gold Medal at the Qinghai Provincial Tourism Commodity Competition. These products are in high demand not only throughout China but also abroad.