The Japanese have always had an eye for beauty, they seam to see beauty in almost everything and then do their best to exemplify this for all to appreciate and stones are no different.

Suiseki, meaning "Water Stone" is the Japanese art form of displaying stones in a special tray with water, these viewing stones are set out on display to allow  maximum appreciation of the stone to the discerning observer.

It isn't any common or garden stone that is revered by the Suiseki collector though, these prized stones are usually sourced from mountain rivers, where the stone has acquired a smoothed, natural furnish to it.

These stones were often displayed with the accompaniment of a Bonsai tree, to give the impression of a mountain sitting afar in the background, to complete a 3D art diorama.

The stone, once collected is never altered or polished in anyway by the collector, instead the stone should only be of its original beauty.  The only change made is to grind or cut the bottom of the stone so that it is perfectly flat so it can sit in the display tray evenly.

The stone sits in a tray called a 'Daiza' which is specially formed to exactly follow the contours of the outline of the stones base.  Also a 'Suiban' can be used which is a Bonsai pot with the breather holes blocked up so it can retain water.

The Daiza will often be positioned on a larger base or podium and this is called a 'Dai'.  The style of the Dai should not overshadow the stone or the Daiza, so that the beauty of the stone is eminent over its surroundings. 

The stones themselves are collected in countless variations depending on the eye of the collector, they may resemble many recognizable forms including but not limited to: human figures, landscapes, trees, mountains, animals, geometry or even just complete abstract shapes. The shape of the stone though is almost always anything but just a normal looking stone or piece of rock and is instantly determined by the viewer as a decorative art form.

Black and dark colored stones with a rough texture are becoming the stone of choice for many collectors, for their uniqueness, their out of the ordinary look and appeal.  It must be emphasized though, that stylish smooth and light colored stones can also adopt a special place with the collector, although the trend at the moment is for dark rock, mountain configurations.

Each stone represents a special sentiment to the collector, an aesthetical and spiritual ambience is said to emanate from every stone  presenting many questions of the stones age and origins.  Suiseki is indeed quite a spiritual awareness and harmony observing art form, bordering upon the mystique of Earths creation, as these art forms are indeed Millions if not Billions of years old.

Suiseki has been an art form in Japan for many centuries, but now Suiseki is slowly taking an interest in the west.  Suiseki stones do not have to be exported from Japan, the collector can trek out into the wilderness of the mountainside and collect indigenous stones from his or her own area.

The Chinese also have an art form that is similar to Suiseki, it is called Gong-Shi or 'Scholars Stones' and they are presented and displayed in pretty much the same way.

For further reading about Suiseki, this fascinating art form, I recommend that you visit these sites: