Chinese scholar's rocks

Chinese scholars' rocks (供石 or gōngshí), also known as scholar stones or viewing stones, are small naturally shaped rocks which are traditionally valued by Chinese scholars.[1]

Scholar's rock, 11th century

Scholars rocks can be any color. There are a wide variety of sizes. Scholars rocks can weigh hundreds of pounds or less than one pound.[2] The term also means stones which are placed in traditional Chinese gardens.

History

Four important qualities for the rocks were recognized in the Tang dynasty. They are: thinness (shou), openness (tou), perforations (lou), and wrinkling (zhou).[1]

Chinese scholar's rocks influenced the development of suseok in Korea and suiseki in Japan.[3]

Origin

The origin of the stone is a notable feature.

Lingbi stone feom Anhui. Ming Dynasty, 15th century

Lingbi stone (Lingbishi) from Lingbi, Anhui province, limestone[4]

Taihu stone (Taihushi) from Lake Tai, Jiangsu province, limestone[4]

Yingde stone (Yingshi or Yingdeshi) from Yingde, Guangdong province, limestone[5]

Evaluation

The evaluation of a scholar's rock identifies subtlety of color, shape, markings and surface. The qualities which are prized include

awkwardness or odd symmetry[6]
resonance or ringing when struck[6]
represents or resemblance to landscape or figure[6]
texture[6]
moistness or glossy surface[6]

The stone may be displayed on a wooden base that has been carved specifically for the stone. The stones are a traditional subject of Chinese paintings.[7]

Related pages

References

Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The World of Scholars' Rocks Gardens, Studios, and Paintings"; retrieved 2012-12-20.
Harvard Shanghai Center, "Scholar Stone"; retrieved 2012-12-20.
Brokaw, Charles. (2011). The Temple Mount Code, p. 73.
Cousins, Craig. (2006). Bonsai Master Class, p. 246.
Cousins, p. 247.
Mendelson, John. "Chinese scholars' rocks simultaneously original and simulacrum" at ArtNet.com, 1996; retrieved 2012-12-20.
Harvard Museums, "Scholar's rock", 1993 painting; Linrothe, Robert N. (2004). Paradise and Plumage: Chinese Connections in Tibetan Arhat Painting, p. 24; retrieved 2012-12-20.

Other websites

Media related to Scholar's rocks at Wikimedia Commons

Scholar's rock at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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[metropolitan-1] Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The World of Scholars' Rocks Gardens, Studios, and Paintings"; retrieved 2012-12-20.

[2] Harvard Shanghai Center, "Scholar Stone"; retrieved 2012-12-20.

[3] Brokaw, Charles. (2011). The Temple Mount Code, p. 73.

[cousins246-4] Cousins, Craig. (2006). Bonsai Master Class, p. 246.

[5] Cousins, p. 247.

[mendelson-6] Mendelson, John. "Chinese scholars' rocks simultaneously original and simulacrum" at ArtNet.com, 1996; retrieved 2012-12-20.

[7] Harvard Museums, "Scholar's rock", 1993 painting; Linrothe, Robert N. (2004). Paradise and Plumage: Chinese Connections in Tibetan Arhat Painting, p. 24; retrieved 2012-12-20.