The Mani stone mounds are usually piled up with white stones. They are, cube- or round- shaped, seated on peaks, mountain passes, cross roads, ferries, lakesides, or by monasteries and graveyards. The aboriginal Bon religion believes that everything on earth has a soul, and it reveres the white stones as the guardian deity. When Tibetan Buddhism was introduced, the Mani stone mounds were not merely constituted with white stones. Initially, the Mani stone mounds were small. When coming across a mound, the passersby would ceremonially recite scripture, walk around it and add a piece of stone to it. If the stone is not available there, he would add some animal skull, horn or wool, or even his own hair, etc. In this Way, the Mani stone mounds have become larger and larger.

The Mani stones vary greatly in size, the large one may be a hill-sized rock; while the small one can be held in the hand. They are round- or cube-shaped and in natural state. All are white colored, but they have different textures, such as limestone, silicalite or white marble. The people usually inscribe a sutra or Buddha image on the Mani stones. Contents of the inscription are always in connection with Buddhism. Such as the scripture, especially the Six Syllable Mantra Prayer, and other lucky words; the Buddha or deity statues; animals, evil spirits, etc. The people not only place the stone on the Mani stone mounds, but also en-shrine them at home or carry them to the remote sacred sites. As the guarding deity, the Mani stones are also embedded in walls or suspended above the roofs. In some places there in even a Mani Stone Hall, with its wall all embedded with Mani stones.

Due to such a huge demand for Mani stones, the Mani stone inscription at thus developed. In contrast with the sublime inscriptions and images of the Mani stones, the inscription artisans distributed in all corners of Tibet have a humble social position. Though they earn their bread from the inscription, they are very pious. When their work on each stone is completed, they will reverently pray to the deity. They will inscribe up to the requirement of the pilgrims. After long standing practice, their craftsmanship has kept growing, forming an art with a unique style. There are several different methods prevalent in different places, such as line inscription and incised inscription with reduced background in Qamdo or Ngari (Ali) Prefecture; bas-relief inscription and integrated inscription popular in Lhasa and Xigaze (Shigatse). Of course, each artisan has his unique style. However, even the same artisan would inscribe the same deity in different appearance and posture on different stones. To them the most important thing is to keep piety to Buddha.