Introduction to Beyond Suiseki

Rocks are ubiquitous—from the finest grain of dust or sand to the most massive range of mountains, and, indeed, to our entire planet. Though rocks can be taken for granted as just “part of the ground” that can blister the feet or be stumbled over, they can also be used to build soaring cathedrals, enduring bridges, national freeway systems.They can conceal valuable gold ore, sparkling diamond crystals, and essential minerals for rocketry and chemicals for pharmaceuticals. They can provide historical records of our species’ evolution with fossils of everything from a DNA molecule to a humongous skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. And, while they can create disastrous avalanches, erupt as destructive volcanoes, rumble, shift, and crack a continent in mighty earthquakes, they can just as well enable glimpses of the very origins of our planet—our solar system and beyond--with radiometric analyses of geological substances which some laymen might loosely call, “rocks.”

Somewhere in this vast litany of rock abilities there is the treasured existence of special viewing stones. Those are the subject of this eBook.

 

Beyond Suiseki: Ancient Asian Viewing Stones of the 21^st Century is a discussion of special artistic viewing stones at the beginning of the Third Millennium, C.E.Beyond Suiseki spotlights the current global thrust propelling ancient Asian stone arts around the world.

Chinese and Korean stone arts are acknowledged along with Japanese suiseki as the originating traditions—each nation’s distinctive arts receiving heightened respect for its long and innovative history—while flourishing stone arts now developing, beyond Asia, are also recognized and the rest of the world is invited to appreciate and participate in the viewing stone arts as they continue to evolve. Ideally, this emerging affinity group will revitalize the ancient Asian art form as it has never been before.

Cover's Tall Blue Stone

This volcanic stone lay in rubble along the banks of Alameda Creek, south of San Francisco. It was called "Fubo Hill on Li River" because its contours suggest that location in China and its sinuous blue and white layers resemble a winding path to up a mountain top on an ancient Asian scroll. What brought such an astonishing stone to so humble a setting?

The Nautilus Book Award recognizes books promoting spiritual growth, conscious living, positive social change and which stimulate the "imagination" and inspire the reader to "new possibilities" for a better world. Beyond Suiseki was awarded a 2009 Silver Medal.

Anybody can have a fine collection of viewing stones

You can gather worthy stones where you find them; their value will be primarily based on their appeal to you. Display of your stone collection can reflect Asian traditions that inspire your interest. Cleaning them, using inconspicuous wedges to position them pleasingly, and placing them on Asian stands--easily found on the internet--or fashioned of any material that suits individual stones will contribute to an impressive assembly. If you yearn to include Asian stones they can be bought reasonably via the internet from sellers in Asia or in other distant countries.

Many Western viewing stone authorities include local stones in their collections as well as those from worldwide locations.

In Beyond Suiseki's Foreword gongshi and Scholars' Rock expert Kemin Hu says, "An American stone admirer once found a nice stone in his hometown and matched it with a simple wooden stand. He asked, "Could I call this stone a Scholars' Rock?" I assured him, "Yes, as long as you have a feeling for the stone. He could not call it a Chinese Scholars' Rock but he could call it an American Scholars' Rock or viewing stone."