Suiseki is a Japanese word which means “water stone.” It used to refer to the Japanese tradition of stone collecting and appreciation, as well as to the stones themselves. It is one among many traditional Japanese aesthetic arts, and suiseki displays can be seen in Japanese homes, gardens, and museums. In communities outside of Japan where this art is practiced, shows may be held to expose people to this art form, and some artists travel with their collections to display their stones in prominent museums and cultural centers.
This art form appears to have originated in China, where people have been appreciating the natural aesthetic beauty of well-formed stones for over two thousand years. Gongshi, or Scholar's Rocks, continue to be valued in China, and they are often found on display in the garden. Both suiseki and gongshi are usually displayed on their own, as standalone items which invite appreciation, exploration, and commentary.
The stones used in suiseki are naturally formed. Although people may wash them, the stones are not carved or treated. The goal is to appreciate the stone as it was created by nature, rather than trying to shape the stone to fit a specific aesthetic ideal. Some of the stones are mounted on wooden blocks, in which case they are known as suiseki daiza. Dark stones tend to be favored, as are stones with rich aesthetic details like veining and variations of color. Stones from exotic locales may be valued if they have an aesthetically pleasing shape, but exoticism alone is not enough to qualify a stone for a display.
Some stones are selected because nature has slowly molded them into a specific shape. Landscape stones in particular are very popular, with people seeking out stones which look like waterfalls, mountain ranges, and other natural features. Landscape suiseki are often employed in bonsai as decorative accents. However, abstract stones are also greatly enjoyed, and other stones may take on the shapes of plants, animals, and other figures.
Like other traditional Japanese arts, suiseki is taught in Japan by masters of the craft. People outside of Japan can also study with masters, although some people attempt to study with books and trips to suiseki displays. It takes years of study and working with stones to become competent at this art, and studying other Japanese aesthetic traditions can be very important, as it allows the student to consider it within the framework of a larger aesthetic tradition.