Page 46 - Tạp chí bonsai BCI Q12011

Platform stones (fig. 11)
Two or three steps
Topa seok (Doha)
Sea stone
Island stones (fig. 12)
Object stones (fig. 13)
Human shaped stone
House with a straw roof
Boat stone
Pattern stones (fig. 14)
Gwe Seok
Viewing stones, Beautiful Stones,
Garden Stones, Rare Stones

Abstract stones are very much appreciated. It is not im-
13.
portant to the Koreans to remain bound by rules and
traditional classifications. They like to look for new in-
14. terpretations and develop the concept of Suseok by fol-
lowing new trends without being too conservative. They
accept the beauty of the NON form, which is an abstract
stone that doesn’t bring to mind definitive images and
details.
In Korea, stones with flower or star designs are much
appreciated and catalogued by the type of flower (fig. 15)
they represent. In the past there were four types of plants
valued by the philosophers and scholars because they
indicated characteristic values. These were Bamboo, Or-
chid, Plum (fig. 16) and Chrysanthemum.
There are three fundamental principles of color: It
shouldn’t be strong or stimulating; It mustn’t be trans-
parent; It must have depth.
Unappreciated colors: bright red or yellow, cement col-
ored (light grey)
Preferred colors: black and shades of dark grey-blue-
green-dark brown.
For the Koreans the ideal measurement of a stone is be-
tween 20 to 40 centimeters.
The beauty of Suseok needs some conditions and details:
15 Sunflower.
It must be symbolic and awaken the observer’s imagi-
nation.
It should represent natural beauty as idealized in ori-
ental paintings.
It must give the impression of being old and tranquil.
It should embody a poetic feeling
The five conditions for a good stone are: Shape; Hard-
ness; Color; Natural Beauty; Feeling of Antiquity.
Other additional conditions:
The lines should descend gently and not be sharp.
It shouldn’t give the idea of too much activity.
If the lines are too strong, they are not very sought
after. For this reason the Koreans prefer stones that
have been shaped by the rivers or lakes and have a soft
form.
16. Plum The mountains are not very high in Korea, therefore
the shapes are soft.

44 | January/February/March 2011