The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation: Suiseki and Its Use With Bonsai

by Vincent T. Covello, Yuji Yoshimura

Written by two leading experts in the field, The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation is an exploration into the art of suisekiâ small, naturally formed stones selected for their shape, balance, simplicity and tranquility. This concise introduction offers aesthetic guidance and direct practical advice. It details the essential characteristics of a high-quality suiseki, describing the various systems of stone classification and showing how to display a suiseki to its best advantage. There is also a section on incorporating suiseki with bonsai, the most popular and rewarding complement to a peaceful suiseki landscape.

Genres: Japan, Art

Paperback

First published September 1, 1984

Reviews

[Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always loved picking up cool rocks. Now I’m inspired to pick up cool stones. 10/10

[bookmunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked out this book because of the subject's proximity to bonsai, but I do not know why I continued to read it. I'm sure it is fascinating to the right kind of person.

[Two Readers in Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

The qualities of wabi, sabi, shibui, and yugen when describing suiseki are still full of ambiguity, but they are no longer an utter mystery to me thanks to this book. I always appreciated these stones when used in bonsai, but now I appreciate them on their own merits as well.