Suiseki; A Japanese word meaning "water stone". The name comes from the custom of displaying the stones in a tray of water. Hundreds of years ago the suiseki were collected from the ancient rivers, polished by the continual movement of water. These stones were displayed, along with bonsai, To complete a vision of a far off mountain in the background.
Western collectors of suiseki have taken to American rivers and the western deserts to find stones of uncomprimising beauty. The Eel river, Russian river area of northern Calif. has yeilded some great stones. Harry Hirao has prized dozens of beauty's from the eel river. Some of his suiseki have been donated to the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. Death Valley has also yeilded some great stones, polished smooth by the high winds blowing scouring sand.
Suiseki should be displayed on a "dai", a carved piece of wood, or a "suiban", a bonsai tray with no holes filled with sand or water. The dai and the suiban should be displayed on a bonsai stand. The only man made improvement on a suiseki is, sawing the bottom flat, and bringing up the natural patina with mineral oil. Some people think that a stone should never be cut, but the verdict is still out.
The dai should compliment the stone and not take away from its beauty. The same way that a fine pot can bring out the beauty in a bonsai, so can a well carved dai. Traditionally the stand that the stone/dai sit on should be of another type of wood to add variety.
Stones that have been altered by man ie; grinding, polishing, dyeing, or cutting except for the bottom, are called "biseki". This means pretty stone. A crysanthemum stone would be an example of a biseki. These stones are ground to expose the azurite flower patterns that have made these stones famous. If you can find a "crissy, or plum bloosom stone, buy it up, as these stones are now protected in China and are not being exported.
There are web sites devoted to suiseki. The best one to start with is the site by world reknown Felix Reviera. Felix lives in the S.F. Bay area, and belongs to the San Francisco Suiseki Society. They have a yearly show at the Lakeside Garden Center, in Oakland Ca. in the spring. It is worth a looksee, you won't be disapointed.
