Page 21 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2017Q3

Suiseki. Kamo is a river flowing through Kyoto. Gawa Facing page; Rozan ishi: a monk
contemplating a waterfall
means river in Japanese, and ishi means stone. So (scroll). This stone is one of the
Kamogawa ishi means a stone which was collected in most famous Suiseki in Japan.
the Kamo river. This is the usual labelling in Japan. Top; Wil Lautenschlager and
Only at the tokonoma-like area, in special exhibition the interpreter during the
areas, and the bonsai exhibition area were the owners presentation “The Nature of
of the Suiseki indicated. Suiseki in Japan”
The Suiseki exhibition was well attended. At peak Middle; A map of Japan with
time, toward midday and after midday, it was even finding places of Suiseki
overcrowded, so it was nearly impossible to calmly
contemplate the stones or to take photos.
Wil Lautenschlager gave a brilliant Suiseki
presentation about “The Nature of Suiseki in Japan”
at the Toiro Studio stage on the 4th floor of the Saitama
Super Arena, which was a little bit difficult to find.
Wil had done thorough research on the subject and
referred to many historical and contemporary sources
(literature). He gave a definition of Suiseki: “Suiseki
are small, naturally-formed stones admired for their
beauty and for their power to suggest a scene from
nature or an object closely associated with nature.” He
also talked about the practice of enhancing Suiseki
by mainly carving. He referred to, among others,
the article “Enhancing Stone” by Dr. Tom Elias and
published in BCI magazine 3, 2016, pp 26. There are
certainly many Suiseki collectors in Japan and in
other parts of the world (including me) who prefer
completely natural stones as Suiseki, but it is a fact
that many Japanese Suiseki you can buy from stone
dealers are enhanced, meaning cut at the base or even
worked to improve their appearance. Sometimes the to discover possible working traces on the stone. But Bottom; Ibigawa Goshiki ishi of
alternation is so well done that an amateur cannot I am convinced that the big majority of the Suiseki the Akiei Funayama collection,
see the difference between a natural and an enhanced shown at the World Bonsai Convention were natural, a mountain stone of ideal
stone. In this case, a magnifying glass could be helpful it means true wonder of nature. proportions shown with a
scroll depicting the rising sun.

July/August/September 2017 | BCI | 19