Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation

The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation is an exploration into the art of suiseki—small, naturally formed stones selected for their shape, balance, simplicity and tranquility. Written by two leading experts in the field of Japanese gardening and art, this concise introduction offers aesthetic guidance and direct practical advice that is a window into traditional Japanese culture. It details the essential characteristics of a high-quality suiseki, describing the various systems of stone classification in this Japanese art form and explaining how to display a suiseki to its best advantage. There is also a section on incorporating suiseki alongside a bonsai tree, the most popular and rewarding complement to peaceful suiseki miniature landscape gardens. Sections include: Historical BackgroundCharacteristics and Aesthetic QualitiesClassification of SuisekiDisplaying a StoneSuiseki with Bonsai and Other Related ArtsCollecting SuisekiHow to Make a Carved Wooden BaseSuiseki Classification Systems