Suiseki Idenitification And Translation

moki

I was wondering if anyone here could help with translating the box that the suiseki I purchased at the Tokyo Green Club:

http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andre...i_waterfall.jpg

I was told that the suiseki I bought has "two names" -- but I'm not sure if they are the names of the stone itself, or the names of the person who found the stone, and then the person who made the box. There is also some writing that should describe where it was found, but as I think we both know, my Japanese is... well, "limited" would be putting it nicely. smile.

From what little I've been told, it says something about "mountain of the old forest" or such?

http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andre...kibox_front.jpg

...and here is the back:

http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andre...ekibox_back.jpg

This is the writing on the base of the daiza (stand):

http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andre...iza_bottom1.jpg

http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andre...iza_bottom2.jpg

The images don't look that good, but I tried to boost the contrast so the writing was more readable.

Attached Images

suiseki1.jpg (24.8 KB, 127 views)

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Andrew Welch / el Presidente / Ambrosia Software, Inc.
http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/

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Robert

Dear Moki,
Currently we have a Japanese Student staying with us, and I asked her to look at your questions. She said the following:

1. Front of box......says "heart and God"

2. Rear of box.....says "Deep mountain, forest and trees

3. on the dark wood....says the name of a person, and "full of peace".

4. on the red wood.....same as on No. 3.

These are her interpretations. Apparently, Japanese writing isn't as "distinct and definite" as western writing..... more creatively interpretive rather than precise translations.
I hope this helps you; maby some others will also respond, and you may get a variety of opinions.

Robert..........in Sta.Cruz

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Robert.........in Sta.Cruz

moki

Thanks much for the help -- I have a friend of mine in Japan who is assisting with the translation as well.

Also, comments on the stone itself are welcome as well; I think the best picture I have of it is here:

http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andre...i_waterfall.jpg

__________________
Andrew Welch / el Presidente / Ambrosia Software, Inc.
http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/

Robert

Dear Moki,
I think the stone is wonderful. We frequently see"waterfall" stones, but I'd characterize this one as a "creek" stone......because of the creek running between the major mountains. It really provokes my imagination....and brings me to several places in the world with high, rugged mountains.....a sort of "New World Evolving" feeling, for me. Thanks for sharing the picture.
It will be interesting if your friend in Japan reads the writing similarly to Yoko, my friend and student in our home.
Best wishes,
Robert.......in Sta.Cruz

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Robert.........in Sta.Cruz

moki

This is what my friend in Japan sent me; he doesn't know much about suiseki, but he did a very nice job on the translation. I don't really understand what a xianren is, nor "ambrosial" (unless he meant that to mean "god"). I'm assuming that "silva" means forest.... the puzzle continues


Here is the translation for the front of the box:




Here is the translation for the back of the box:




Here is the translation for the daiza bottom:

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Andrew Welch / el Presidente / Ambrosia Software, Inc.
http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/

bonsaial1

Translation or no translation, the stone speaks for itself. This is one of those awesome stones that I would love to have in my collection. very nice....

Bonsai-al

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A tree a day...thats all we ask.

Bonsainut

Moki,
Talk more about this "Tokyo Green club". I've searched for it with no luck.

That is the best stone I have yet seen I think. Do you know anymore about it. ---BN

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Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

moki

Here's some info for ya:

.....

Ueno Green Club and Kokufu-ten Bonsai Exhibition - Tokyo



The greatest Bonsai exhibition "Kokufu-ten" is held at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in February. Kokufu-ten means "the exhibition of atmosphere in this country". It's difficult to translate into English though. It is very big. When the Kokufu-ten is held, many bonsai nurseries gather at "Ueno Green Club" and sell their wonderful Bonsai. They move between Ueno Green Club and the Art Museum by bus. The Ueno Green Club is a large shop which has three floors, 5 to 10 Bonsai exhibitions are held here each year and many other Bonsai shops gather and sell their good Bonsai.


The address of Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is: 8-36 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo. Ph. 03-3823-6921, The Ueno Green Club is at the back of Ueno station at: 3-42 Ueno-Kouen, Taitouku, Tokyo. Ph. 03-5685-5656

.....

It was a *wonderful* bonsai competition, and the Ueno Green Club had an incredible array of amazing bonsai and suiseki (and everything else under the sun) available for sale.

The bonsai village is not too far away, either (about an hour by bus), and was amazingly beautiful:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pala...japanomiya.html

__________________
Andrew Welch / el Presidente / Ambrosia Software, Inc.
http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/

moki

As for the suiseki, yes, I've gotten some more information:

Here is what I've gotten from my friend who lives in Kyoto:

"the first name of the stone is "shinsen" or the sacred xianren (mountain hermit), the type of rock is a "Furuya shiwa ishi", and the second name is "Shinnzan Jurin" or "deep mountain lined with a forest of tall trees"

Here's something from a friend of mine in Tokyo:

.....

First the following means Mountain God. Have you heard Sinto? We have not only Buddhism also Shinto which is one of Japanese very old religion. Our ancestors thought all materials, everywhere, anywhere, god exist. And then they thought God exist in Mountain. That means.

http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andre...kibox_front.jpg


Next one is Woodland in the deep mountain. I don't know exactly mean but I guess the hermit or ascetic live in the Woodland of the deep mountain. We image that place is mysterious.

__________________
Andrew Welch / el Presidente / Ambrosia Software, Inc.
http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/