suiseki

Suiseki

Photos (c) 2003, 2005 Andrew Alden, licensed to About.com, Inc. (fair use policy)

Suiseki is the art of selecting and presenting natural stones. Where the geologist sees a stone as a riddle—a set of mineral and morphological clues to the history of the area—the devotee of suiseki sees a stone as a pure aesthetic experience, a mystery rather than a puzzle. Suiseki (from the Japanese words "water stone") are natural, unworked stones that suggest other natural shapes, such as mountains, waterfalls, islands, crags, and even whole landscapes. They may also be abstract. The art of suiseki appreciation has existed for centuries in Japan. Recently Westerners have taken up the art, and many American stones meet the highest standards. The California "island stone" above is shown on a traditional sand dish and platform. The "mountain stone" suiseki below are presented in wooden holders.

Suiseki are commonly placed near bonsai pots, where the miniature landforms complement the miniature trees. But these "viewing stones" are also appreciated alone. The Chinese practice of collecting gong-shi, or "scholar's stones," is an interesting relative of suiseki.

The geologist beholding suiseki feels his mind twisted. The top stone, of course, owes much of its charm to schistosity, the middle one to brecciation and the bottom one (a gneiss) to foliation. But these geologic facts are irrelevant, probably a distraction, to the collector/artist. All we can do is keep our big words to ourselves and enjoy the pleasant shock of seeing the familiar—often rocks from our own field areas—in a different context.

See this article for more about this form of "earth art" plus another photo.

Fossils
Geologic Features and Processes
Glaciers and Ice
Landforms
Minerals
Rocks
Geology and Society