CHAPTER 6
Collecting Suiseki
In Japan, public exhibitions of suiseki are held in nearly every large city and in many smaller towns. In addition to the national and international suiseki exhibitions sponsored by the Japanese Suiseki Association and the Japanese Bonsai Association, local suiseki and bonsai clubs throughout the country organize periodic exhibitions. The time and location of these exhibitions may change from year to year, and updated information can be obtained by consulting Japanese bonsai and suiseki publications or by asking commercial suiseki dealers.
Several Japanese museums and temples also have suiseki in their collections, and these stones can be seen by appointment or on the occasions they are exhibited. The Nezu Museum in Tokyo, the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya, and the Nishi Honganji temple in Kyoto, for example, periodically exhibit suiseki from their collections.
Although there are many private collections of suiseki in Japan, these are generally not open to the public. Private appointments can, however, often be arranged through a dealer or through personal contacts. Visits to private collections are also sometimes included in specialized tours of Japan organized by bonsai clubs in various countries.
Suiseki are publicly exhibited in countries other than Japan, but on a more limited basis. In 1973, for instance, a major exhibition of suiseki and meiseki was held at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. The exhibition, sponsored by the Los Angeles-Nagoya Sister-City Affiliation and the Chubu Region Rock Collectors Association, included over 120 stones. Suiseki can also be viewed at national and local bonsai conventions held annually in numerous countries. Many local bonsai clubs also hold special workshops devoted to the appreciation of suiseki and their use with bonsai.
As mentioned earlier, one of the finest permanent collections of suiseki outside Japan is housed at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. The Arboretum has six excellent suiseki in its collection. These stones, together with fifty-three rare bonsai, were presented to the American people by the Japanese Bonsai Association in commemoration of the 1976 American Bicentennial (Fig. 124; see Figs. 34, 38, 44, 49, 58). The gift was supported in part by a grant from the Japan Foundation. In the United States, suiseki are also exhibited in the Bonsai Court of the Huntington Botanical Gardens located in San Marino, California.
The goal of most suiseki collectors is to amass a collection containing at least one high-quality example from each major suiseki classification, subclassification, category, and subcategory. Some collectors also specialize in particular types of stones, including suiseki representing (1) a particular category, (2) a particular locality, (3) a particular color or surface texture, (4) a particular mineral or rock type (for example, basalt or limestone), and (5) a particular size, such as miniature suiseki. Some collectors also specialize in suiban and make a concerted effort to obtain at least one example from each major kiln.
Japanese suiseki collections are often quite different from non-Japanese suiseki collections. Over the centuries, the Japanese have developed a preference for particular types of stones, based in large part on a unique set of geographical, geological, and cultural factors (Figs. 125, 142). Probably the most important factor is that Japan is a small and mountainous Pacific island-nation with a long, rocky coastline. Four-fifths of the country is covered by mountains separated by deep valleys and rushing streams. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that suiseki resembling mountains, islands, waterfalls, and mountain streams are especially popular among Japanese suiseki collectors. As mentioned in Chapter 1, the Japanese preference for particular types of stones is also based, in part, on a rich synthesis of several religious and philosophical traditions, including Buddhism, Shintoism, and Chinese philosophy.
Fig. 142. Distant mountain stone suggesting a view of the Japan Alps, such as that shown in Figure 125. Stones of this type are especially prized by Japanese collectors. Place of origin: Japan.
In other countries, preferences for particular types of stones are also based on geographical, geological, and cultural factors that are unique to the country. In the United States, for example, large collections of desert stones have been amassed by suiseki enthusiasts in California. These stones suggest desert formations (buttes, mesas, sand dunes, and arched rock outcroppings) that are unique to that part of the United States (Figs. 127-129). The colors of these suiseki are the warm tones of the desert sun and sand—colors that are quite different from those favored by Japanese collectors.
In the finest collections, new additions are carefully cataloged. Each stone is assigned a catalog number and a record is made containing this, together with the geographical place of origin, the classification, the poetic name, and the dimensions. A more complete record might also contain the date acquired, the dealer and cost (if the stone was purchased), the names of previous owners, the mineral content and type of rock, and any other interesting or descriptive information. Usually, the catalog number also appears both on the bottom of the stone and on the bottom of the dai, affixed by means of a stick-on label. In the past, pertinent information about the stone was often written on a scroll or on the lid of a box made especially for the stone (Fig. 143). A suiseki that has had several owners might be accompanied by several scrolls or boxes. In modern times, scrolls and box lids are seldom used to keep records; instead, most collectors use file or index cards. If the suiseki is later sold or traded, the old record is frequently preserved, even if a new record is made.
Fig. 143. Waterpool stone displayed with the lid for the stone’s storage box. The stone’s place of origin and other information are written on the lid. The miniature accessory at the edge of the pool represents the goddess Kannon. Place of origin: Japan (Kamogawa, Kyoto).
Suiseki and suiban can be purchased and viewed in special showrooms or in the bonsai sections of the larger Tokyo department stores. Suiseki can also be purchased and viewed in other stores throughout Japan which specialize in suiseki, bonseki, bonsai, bonkei, or gemstones. Many of these stores, especially the larger ones located in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagoya, regularly advertise in Japanese bonsai and suiseki magazines. Considering the close relationship between suiseki and bonsai, it should come as no surprise that many Japanese bonsai nurseries also sell suiseki and suiban. Suiseki are also sold at monthly auctions held in several Japanese cities. Most of these stones are later sold to private collectors or to specialty stores.
Opportunities to buy suiseki outside Japan are much fewer. Most non-Japanese collectors obtain their stones through trading or field collecting. Recently, however, commercial nurseries and bonsai-supply stores have begun to carry suiseki and suiban as part of their regular stock.
Fig. 144. Near-view mountain stone with an intricately carved dai.
Place of origin: Japan.
Several factors play a role in determining the value of a suiseki. Assuming that the suiseki is a good representative of its type (an Island stone or a Waterfall stone, for example) and has acceptable color, texture, and balance, it often loses value if it has been cut, chiseled, polished, painted, or altered in any way. The stone will also lose value if it has been chipped or bruised.
By comparison, a stone generally gains value if (1) it has natural white markings at its peak (suggesting snow or mist), at its base (suggesting crashing waves), or crossing the front side (suggesting a waterfall or mountain stream); (2) it is a combination of several types, such as a Distant mountain stone with features suggesting a waterfall, or a Waterpool stone with the pool surrounded by several mountain peaks; (3) it comes with one or more boxes or scrolls documenting its pedigree, especially if the stone belonged at one time to a famous public figure; (4) it comes with a well-carved dai (Fig. 144); (5) it represents a famous scenic spot, such as Mount Fuji; or (6) it represents a popular subject, such as a chrysanthemum flower. Chrysanthemum-pattern stones —especially sizable, unpolished stones with large flower designs, well-formed petals, and a distinct center—are greatly prized by Japanese collectors.
Fig. 145. Distant mountain stone suggesting a mountain glacier.
Height: approx. 6 inches (15 cm.). Place of origin: Canada (British Columbia).
Although most of the important sites in Japan are rapidly being depleted, outstanding specimens can still be collected wherever there are mountains, fields, valleys, shorelines, and river beds—in short, nearly everywhere.
Since a particular site can yield more than one good specimen, collectors frequently record the location of their finds. Japanese collectors are especially diligent in keeping such records. As was noted in Chapter 2, Japanese suiseki are often named, at least in part, after the place where they were originally found. The same chapter also described some of the most famous Japanese suiseki collection sites. These include Neodani in Gifu prefecture, Furuya in Wakayama prefecture, and the Sajigawa, Setagawa, Kamo-gawa, and Ibigawa rivers.
High-quality suiseki have also been found in other areas of the world (Fig. 130). In North America, collectors have discovered excellent Waterpool, Thatched-hut, Waterfall, Island, and Object stones in New England and Nova Scotia; well-formed Mountain stones in the creeks of the Appalachians, Rockies, Sierras, and the northern Cascades; fine Object and Distant mountain stones in the California Mojave Desert; and interesting Flower-pattern stones along the coast of British Columbia (Figs. 126, 131-136, 145, 146).
Fig 146. Dry waterfall stone. Height: approx. 14 inches (36 cm.). Place of origin: United States (New York).
Suiseki collectors have traditionally favored sites known for their hard stones. The hardness of a stone is determined by its ability to resist scratching and abrasion. Among mineralogists, hardness is measured on a numerical scale known as the Mohs’ scale, which ranges from 1 (indicating the softest minerals, such as talc) to 10 (indicating the hardest minerals, such as diamonds). Each mineral classified by the scale can scratch any mineral that numerically precedes it, and can be scratched in turn by any mineral that follows it on the scale.
The most highly prized suiseki fall between hard and very hard, that is, between 5 and 7 on the Mohs’ scale.
Because of their hardness, igneous and metamorphic rocks are the most suitable for suiseki. Among igneous rocks, the most preferred are diabase (gabbro), diorite, granite (especially biotite granite), rhyolite, andesite, and basalt (especially basalt with quartz or calcite veining or markings). Among metamorphic rocks, the most preferred are schist (especially chlorite, epidote, biotite, and piedmontite schist), gneiss (especially granite gneiss), and hornfels. Also in collections are rocks made of jade, agate, jasper, obsidian, serpentine, aventurine, limestone, sandstone, clay-slate, pyroxene, tuff, and shale. Most rock and mineral guides provide a complete description of each of these types of rocks. Detailed information on the location of major deposits can be obtained from mineral guide-books or from gemstone magazines, mineral societies, rock shops, museums of natural history, or university geology departments.
Well-formed suiseki are frequently found where the forces of erosion are most active. With some exceptions—such as areas lacking suitable geological material—the most promising sites are characterized by extremely high winds, continuously blowing sand, or powerful torrents of water. Experienced field collectors specifically report that high-quality suiseki are found in greater numbers in deep ravines and in the middle or upper middle sections of swift-flowing mountain creeks, both in the creek bed and on the banks and slopes above the creek. By comparison, stones collected in the upper sections of creeks, streams, and rivers are often too jagged or sharp to make a good suiseki, and stones collected in the lower sections are frequently too flat or rounded. Stones collected on sandy beaches also tend to be too flat or rounded.
After a promising site has been identified, the experienced collector surveys the area and maps out a route using topographical and geological maps. If permission is needed to enter an area or to collect minerals, it should be obtained well in advance. Many public forests and parks require special collecting permits that may take several weeks or months to acquire.
The basic tool kit of a suiseki collector includes a high-quality steel pick and hammer, a 10- to 12-inch cold chisel, a small shovel or trowel, and safety glasses to protect the eyes if stones must be chiseled or hammered (Fig. 147). All tools should be in good condition, with firm grips and sharp edges. Some optional, although useful, items are a hard hat for work in caves, mines, or quarries; pruning shears or a small saw for cutting roots away from stones; a long pry bar for loosening stones (the bar can also double as a walking stick); sturdy work gloves; and burlap, newspaper, plastic bags, or other material for wrapping and protecting specimens.
Fig. 147. Tools for the suiseki collector: a steel pick and hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and a trowel.
For long or overnight field trips, proper equipment and clothing are an absolute necessity. Clothing should be adequate for the climate, keeping in mind that mountain and desert weather can rapidly change. Clothing should also be able to withstand the rough wear it will receive. Loose-fitting pants made of denim, canvas, or cotton are the most practical for protecting the legs from insects, poison ivy, thorn bushes, and scrapes. In no case is it advisable to wear shorts. Clothing should be layered—an undershirt, shirt, sweater, and light jacket—so that successive layers can be removed as the day warms. A wide-brimmed hat will also provide protection from the sun’s glare. On long trips, sturdy, high-quality boots are essential. They should be waterproofed and have nonslip soles for support and traction. Rubber boots are useful for wading through streams.
A backpack will be needed for carrying suiseki when vehicles are not available. Considering the weight of a typical suiseki— 5 to 25 pounds—it is essential that the backpack be sturdy and properly fitted. Most collectors prefer packs with a strong frame and with a bag of heavy-duty nylon taffeta or heavy-duty nylon. Before purchasing a backpack, it should be tried on, fully loaded with 40 to 50 pounds of weight.
In addition to the items listed above, on long trips the field collector should always carry ten essentials: (1) a compass; (2) a flashlight with spare bulb and batteries; (3) extra food and water; (4) extra woolen clothing, especially a wool cap, and rainwear; (5) sun protection (including sunglasses and sunscreen lotion); (6) waterproof matches, firestarter, and a short candle; (7) a first-aid kit; (8) a knife; (9) signaling devices, such as a whistle and a metal mirror; and (10) a waterproof emergency shelter.
It is best never to collect alone in remote areas. On long trips most suiseki collectors travel with other collectors, or join collecting expeditions organized by local mineral societies, bonsai groups, or hiking clubs. Collecting groups normally spread out according to interest, but voice contact should always be maintained with at least one person.
Before stones are actually collected, the area should be scouted. If a promising stone is found, the spot should be marked, possibly with a pile of stones or with a brightly colored tag. If the stone is eventually removed, the hole should be filled, thus preventing accidents.
Soil that adheres to the stone should be washed off in a stream or brushed off. The purpose of such cleaning is not to make the stone spotlessly clean and shining. The beauty of a suiseki is enhanced by a rich patina and other signs of age, and overcleaning can ruin a fine stone. For the same reason, care should be exercised in removing the stone from the ground and in wrapping the specimen at the collection site. It often takes years for a scratched suiseki to recover its original appearance.
Equipment in hand, and with the most careful planning, the first field expedition can nonetheless be a frustrating experience. Confronted by hundreds, or even thousands, of stones, it is difficult to know how or where to begin. In preparation for the expedition, the collector should study the various types of suiseki and train the eye by viewing as many examples as possible. Knowledge gained from these efforts will be an invaluable aid in quickly singling out the most promising stones.