Page 21 - BSAM 2017 Q3

Suiseki. Kamo is a river owing through Kyoto. Gawa means river in Japanese, and ishi means stone. So Kamogawa ishi means a stone which was collected in the Kamo river. is is the usual labelling in Japan. Only at the tokonoma-like area, in special exhibition areas, and the bonsai exhibition area were the owners of the Suiseki indicated.
e Suiseki exhibition was well attended. At peak time, toward midday and a er midday, it was even overcrowded, so it was nearly impossible to calmly contemplate the stones or to take photos.
Wil Lautenschlager gave a brilliant Suiseki presentation about “ e Nature of Suiseki in Japan” at the Toiro Studio stage on the 4th oor of the Saitama Super Arena, which was a little bit di cult to nd. Wil had done thorough research on the subject and referred to many historical and contemporary sources (literature). He gave a de nition 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. ere 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 alternation is so well done that an amateur cannot see the di erence between a natural and an enhanced stone. In this case, a magnifying glass could be helpful
Facing page; Rozan ishi: a monk contemplating a waterfall (scroll). This stone is one of the most famous Suiseki in Japan.
Top; Wil Lautenschlager and the interpreter during the presentation“The Nature of Suiseki in Japan”
Middle; A map of Japan with nding places of Suiseki
to discover possible working traces on the stone. But I am convinced that the big majority of the Suiseki shown at the World Bonsai Convention were natural, it means true wonder of nature.
Bottom; Ibigawa Goshiki ishi of the Akiei Funayama collection, a mountain stone of ideal proportions shown with a scroll depicting the rising sun.
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