Silversmith Soinam

　　Soinam, 68, is a well-known figure in Gyangze, Xigaze Prefecture, and most local residents address him as Oso Soinam, with the added moniker meaning silversmith in the Tibetan language.

　　Soinam was only eight years old when he began learning his craft as a silversmith from his father. His gold and silver pieces, including jewelry and silver bowls with lids, are considered to be the best in Xigaze and thus enjoy excellent sales. The luxury durable goods in his carpeted home are a true indication of his wealth. "I have more than 500,000 yuan in savings, " said Soinam with great satisfaction.

　　The elderly Soinam prefers to wear a traditional Tibetan hat and robe, gold and turquoise earrings with a diameter close to that of a tennis ball, three large gold rings, and a cat's eye dangling from his neck. "These items cost more than 100,000 yuan," said Soinam. "My wife wears even more."

　　Soinam built his two-story house in 1986 at a cost of 40,000 yuan. Soinam recalled: "The Nyang Qu River flooded in 1954 and washed away all of our belongings. Local PLA troops provided us with food, grain, clothing and overcoats. Their generous assistance helped tide us over during the unexpected turn of events."

　　Soinam formerly lived in Kangma County where all members of his family worked as slaves for owner Dasang Piro. Soinam has one brother and one sister. He and his brother apprenticed under their father.

　　The 13-Article Code and the 16-Article Code in old Tibet classified people into nine grades with three classes, with silversmiths relegated to the lowest rung of society along with women, butchers and hunters. The value of people in that class was considered to be less than that for straw rope, and both silversmiths and blacksmiths were referred to by the demeaning moniker "black-boned."

　　Soinam and his brother joined their father in working for their owner, noble families and monasteries, while his mother and sister tilled the fields and wove for the owner without compensation. Soinam sadly recounted: "My brother died from a fatal injury inflicted by our owner's son."

　　Doje Zholma, Soinam's wife, also had a very sad childhood. Three of her five brothers and sisters died from starvation and illness. She and her elder brother survived but live a precarious existence weaving carpets for wealthy families in return for small amounts of food and grain.

　　On one particular day, Zholma broke a pot belonging to the owner and fled to avoid a severe beating. "Shortly thereafter, I met and fell in love with Soinam," recalled Zholma. "Our parents opposed the marriage and forced us to leave. We earned a meager living by making silver objects and weaving carpets in Pagri, Kangma and Nanny. We, in fact, lived in Nanny for three years."

　　Just as Zongshan, Nanny, which is located 20 km south of Gyangze, was also a battlefield on which local people bravely resisted invading British forces. However, the British eventually seized control, pilfered all cultural relics and set fire to the Nanny Monastery.

　　Despite having gained wealth, Soinam and Zholma often recall their past sad life and how poor people treated them kindly. Said recollections prompted the couple to donate some 20,000 yuan to commission a Mani prayer tube for local people to pray for good luck.

　　Soinam now works in his home where he both crafts and markets silver objects. However, he also has fun and does a brisk business by setting up a street stall during festivals.

　Soinam, a devout Buddhist, visits the Palkor Monastery each morning to pray for good luck and then returns home for more prayers at his family Buddhist shrine. "I pray for all family members to enjoy good health and better business, for world peace and for happiness for all living things," said Soinam.