Suiseki

In traditional Japanese culture, suiseki (水石) are small naturally occurring or shaped rocks which are appreciated for their aesthetic or decorative value. They are similar to Chinese scholar's rocks.[1]

Japanese Suiseki stone with base (daiza) and box. The wooden plaque and the box inscription explain that this is a famous stone from the San'in region of Japan, in the Tottori Prefecture, and that the stone proceeds from the river Saji; the stone has been named Takarabune (treasure ship).
Suiseki stone in its bronze doban tray filled with sand
Suiseki and its wooden daiza base

History

Chinese scholar's rocks called gongshi influenced the development of suiseki in Japan.[2] The history of suiseki in Japan begins during the reign of Empress Suiko. The small objects were brought to Japan as gifts from the Chinese Imperial court.[3]

Suiseki are usually presented in two different ways:

  • The stone is provided with a wooden base (daiza).
  • The stone is placed in a waterproof tray or bowl of ceramic (水盤 suiban) or bronze (doban).

These stones are not just any stones which can be found in nature; they must be expressive stones and have a special shape, color and texture to be categorized as suiseki. There is a distinction between landscape and object stones. The former reflect landscapes such as mountains, lakes or rivers, while other stones have object shapes that resemble animals or sculptures.

The stones are of natural origin and are found in rivers, oceans and karst areas. They are not allowed to be reshaped. An exception is the cutting of stones to have a flat base, so they can be placed stably on a daiza, suiban or doban, to be displayed properly. However, this diminishes their value in the eyes of some enthusiasts.

Evaluation

The evaluation of suiseki recognizes subtlety of color, shape, markings and surface. According to Hideo Marushima (丸島秀夫, Marushima Hideo, 1934- ) in The History of Suiseki in Japan (日本愛石史, Nihon aisekishi),

It is not a silly thing at all to enjoy a stone in a tray. I see the whole world in a tiny stone. Some objects in this world are huge, and others are small, and they come in all shapes, but they are not that different when you look at their essence.[4]

Popular types of suiseki suggest a mountain, a waterfall, an island, a thatched hut or an animal.[1]

See also

References
  1. Cousins, Craig. (2006). Bonsai Master Class, p. 244.
  2. Brokaw, Charles. (2011). The Temple Mount Code, p. 73.
  3. Corvello, Vincent T. and Yūji Yoshimura. (1996). The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation: Suiseki and Its Use With Bonsai, p. 17.
  4. Rivera, Felix G. (1997). Suiseki: The Japanese Art of Miniature Landscape Stones, p. 40, citing The History of Suiseki in Japan (日本愛石史, Nihon aisekishi).

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