We welcome you to our website. We have been involved with stones for as long as we can remember, from yard stones to touch stones and on to viewing stones and finally to Suiseki.
The word Suiseki translated means “water-stone”. It is the Japanese art of stone appreciation, and is said to be an abbreviation of the word “san-sui-kei-jyo-seki which means “landscape scene stone”. Their beauty has been shaped by the forces of nature over millions of years. These stones may be found in rivers, creeks, deserts, mountains and ocean shores. In them, one can see the beauty of nature on a more intimate scale, i.e. seeing a larger scene in a small object –similar to the concept in bonsai. They are collected for their unique shape, color, texture and patina and hardness of material.
The Suiseki pictured here is an Object Stone which we call JoJo, he resembles a Hawaiian Monk Seal pup. JoJo weighs 22 lbs and is 13" tall by 7" wide.
The five basic types of suiseki are
1. Scenic Landscape Stones. These resemble natural topography, such as mountains, caves, plateaus, islands, etc.
2. Object Shaped Stones. Their shape resembling human figures, animals or man-made objects such as boats and huts.
3. Pattern Stones. They have unique patterns formed by color, textures or embedded minerals
4. Color stones
5. Abstract stones
Reference: "Unkon Fu - Soul of Stone: by Ben Nanjo, GSBF Suiseki Monograph, 2005
See also: NIPPON SUISEKI ASSOCIATION. http://www.suiseki-assn.gr.jp/en/
Link to the Huntington Library:
California Aiseki Kai 31st Annual Viewing Stone Virtual Show December 2020
Photographs of favorite viewing stones featuring landscape forms, figures, and other natural phenomena.
Let It Snow! – Viewing Stones of Winter
A comprehensive selection of stones with imagery celebrating the winter season. View
The Magic of Mimetoliths – Animal Imagery in Stones
A selection of stones designed to introduce viewing stones to children and their families so that they might share in the wonders of the natural world. View