Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources

 

Han Jiang river stone

 

Gongshi belongs to the Chinese tradition of venerating beautiful stones, which has existed since the Neolithic era, when prized geological specimens were placed into tombs as offerings. Chinese writers composed essays praising the natural qualities of these gazing stones, especially if they were represenative of mythological creatures like dragons, spiritual concepts,  prominent mountains or had a captivating aesthetic. They are also known as Lingbi Stones and Scholar Rocks and have been a favorite with collectors since ancient times. Some were revered if they conjured imagery of immortals and sages or the remote mountain grottoes and caves where they liked to dwell. The Japanese called these stones Shuiseki, which meant Water and Stone and they were used for interior decoration and in courtyards and gardens.

The Rinzai Zen monks from Kyoto wrote in 1474 that the contemplation of evocotive stones allows you to look upon grand vistas without travelling far, feel grounded and experience cleansing and purification of the heart. It was recognized as being good for enriching the spirit and prolonging happiness. Generally, shiseki stones are formed naturally or with a minimal amount of manipulation.

 

 

 

 

‘Beyond the Path’ gazing stone

 

 

Krizopras stone

 

 

 

Chinese Scholar’s Rock—Red Taihu Stone

 

 

Ascension Gongshi Scholar Stone

 

 

Chinese Qing Dynasty Scholar’s Stone

 

 

Hualien rose stone

 

 

Approaching the Chasm — Suiseki stone from Momjave Desert with copper hues

 

 

Contemplation stone with appearance of cascading water–Omugawa Ishi

 

 

Orange Shuiseki with black undulating serpent

 

 

Forest in full moon Suiseki

photo –  Fabio Petroni

 

Suiseki creation chaos

 

 

Polished oval stone

 

 

Abstract scholar stone

 

 

Resting Ox suiseki stone

 

 

 

Year Of The Ox – 2021

 

 

 

Green and ochre Suiseki stone

 

 

Bowing servant

 

 

 

Tree silhoette suiseki

 

 

Ellyptical suiseki

 

 

 

Immortal figure suiseki

 

 

 

Spinach green Gongshi

 

 

Red and white suiseki stone

 

 

Mountain lake vista

 

 

Typhoon Vortex

 

 

Japanese Geisha suiseki

 

 

 

Modernist form Suiseki

 

 

 

Orb portal stone

 

 

Dragon dynamism suiseki

 

 

Burnt trees suiseki

 

 

Suiseki Willow

 

 

 

Rounded fossilized calliagraphy stone

 

 

Cranial crown chakra stone

 

 

 

Suiseki waterfall stone

 

 

Natural landscape suiseki

 

 

 

Half Moon Bay portal stone

 

 

Hualien Rose shuiseki stone

 

 

Irish Hag Stone

 

 

 

Jade Elephant suiseki stone

 

 

Ken McLeod—jade colour mountain

 

 

 

Red Jasper sculpture stone

 

 

Suiseki mountains

Riversoul Crafts Etsy

 

 

Ruby imbedded fuschite heart rejuvination

 

 

Suiseki Waterfall Stone — Abegawa River, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan—–Kenichi Oguchi gift – 2001

 

 

 

Taking flight scholar stone

NGV

 

 

Seated Sage stone contemplation

 

 

Malachite in its natural state evokes lush green hills in early summer.

Lukuni Mine – Democratic Republic of Congo—Ralph W Johnson

 

 

Awakening suiseki stone

 

 

The Universe speckled scholar stone

 

 

Dragon descending scholar stone

!6.5 ins H — Qing Dynasty, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. 

 

Large Chinese ‘Gongshi’ Scholar Stone

 

 

Chinese Lingbi stone

 

 

Globular horses vessel  – Paolo Staccioli

 

 

Ma Chang Red Stone

 

 

Green Mountain Range stone

Eel River-California—Richard Manning

 

 

Trident maple (Acer buergerianum), has its roots growing over a rock and its foliage and stems trimmed in the shape of a dragon

National Bonsai and Penjing Museum

 

 

Sheer face mountain suiseki

 

 

Back of a woman

 

 

Dragon movement

 

 

Cliff top down to plains — suiseki stone

 

 

Suiseki schematic figures

 

 

Suiseki landscape

 

 

Svend Bayer lustre glaze

 

 

Taihu limestone Scholar Stone

met

 

 

Tall Sculptural Form, Kohiki — Shozo Michikawa

H–14ins

 

 

Teaware by Paul Fryman and Mikhail Tovstous

(Ukraine)  Pottery Park Store

 

 

‘Whirlwind’ Suisaki

Zymoglyphic Museum

 

 

 

Wu Jiang River stone Suiseki

 

 

Suiseki

Da Su Bonsai Studios

 

Seated monk

 

 

Suiseki sculpture – Kurokamo-ishi

 

 

Shelter Stone – Melba Tucker

Indio, California

 

 

Spinach and russet jade mountain stone, carved in relief with scholar painting

19th century China

 

 

Meditation Gong Shui

 

 

Crysanthenum Stone

 

 

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