Mr. Ma was born in Gansu province, a neighboring province next to Tibet where many Tibtan live. 

"I did not appreciate the traditional culture while growing up.  All I wanted was to get out of my hometown and live in a big city like Beijing or Shanghai" Mr. Ma told us, " in 1997, the big financial crisis in Asia really crushed my small business in Beijing.  I had to pack up my things and went home for a while.  Then I suddenly found the beauty of the things that had always been around me.  I think after I grew older and seen the outside world, I began to appreciate my culture and the art around me.  I traveled to Lhasa to learn painting and carpentry.  And I started my furniture business since then.  It is great to do what you love for a living.  There is nothing else in the world I would rather do than making beautiful Tibetan furniture piece.  These are not just furniture, these are art, culture, faith and love deep from our hearts."