JAPANESE ART OF STONE APPRECIATION_THE: Suiseki

Suiseki - small, naturally formed stones selected for their shape, balance, simplicity and tranquility - were first admired in China some two thousand years ago. Since the sixth century, the art of suiseki has been adapted and refined in Japan, where today stones of great beauty are set on stands to suggest objects closely associated with nature, such as distant mountains, soaring cliffs, islands, caves, and country cottages. This concise introduction offers aesthetic guidance and direct practical advice to suiseki collectors and would-be collectors alike. It details the essential characteristics of a high-quality suiseki, describing the various systems of stone classification and showing how to display a suiseki to its best advantage. There is also a section on incorporating suiseki with bonsai, the most popular and rewarding complement to a peaceful suiseki landscape.