Gongshi

Gongshi(Chinese:Cung thạch), also known asscholar's rocksorviewing stones,are naturally occurring or shapedrockswhich are traditionally appreciated by Chinese scholars.^[1]The term is related to the Koreansuseok(수석) and the Japanesesuiseki(Thủy thạch).

Scholars' rocks can be any color, and contrasting colors are not uncommon. The size of the stone can also be quite varied: scholars' rocks can weigh hundreds of pounds or less than one pound.^[2]The term also identifies stones which are placed in traditionalChinese gardens.

History

In theTang dynasty,a set of four important qualities for the rocks were recognized. They are: thinness ( sấu shòu), openness ( thấu tòu), perforations ( lậu lòu), and wrinkling ( trứu zhòu).^[1]

Gongshi influenced the development of Koreansuseokand Japanesesuiseki.^[3]

Sources

Lingbi stone from Anhui. Ming Dynasty, 15th century

There are three main Chinese sources for these stones.

Lingbi stone (Lingbishi) (Chinese: Linh bích thạch ) fromLingbi,Anhuiprovince, limestone^[4]^[5]
Taihu stone(Taihushi) (Chinese: Thái hồ thạch ) fromLake Tai,Jiangsuprovince, limestone^[4]
Yingde stone (YingshiorYingdeshi) (Chinese: Anh thạch or anh đức thạch ) fromYingde,Guangdongprovince, limestone^[6]

The geological conditions needed for the formation of stones are also present at some other sites.^[7]^[8]

Formation

Scholar's stones are generallykarstic limestone.Limestoneis water-soluble under some conditions.^[9]Dissolution pittingdissolves hollows in the limestone. On a larger scale, this causesspeleogenesis(when caves dissolve in limestonebedrock). On a still larger scale, the dissolved caves collapse, gradually creatingkarst topography,such as the famouslandscapes of Guilinin theSouth China Karst.

As rocks are broadlyfractal(geology journals require a scale to be included in images of rocks), the small rocks can resemble the larger landscape.

Aesthetics

Emperor Huizong of SongpaintedAuspicious Dragon Rock( tường long thạch đồ ), depicting a water-eroded Taihu rock that was likened to adragon

Theaestheticsof a scholar's rock is based on subtleties of color, shape, markings, surface, and sound. Prized qualities include:

awkward or overhangingasymmetry^[10]
resonance or ringing when struck^[10]
representation or resemblance to mountainouslandscapes,particularly these believed to be inhabited by immortal beings^[1]or figures^[10]^[11]
texture^[10]
moistness or glossy surface^[10]

The stone may be displayed on arosewoodpedestal that has been carved specifically for the stone. The stones are a traditional subject of Chinese paintings.^[12]

Gallery

Taihu limestone
Black Lingbi limestone
Gray Lingbi limestone
Black Lingbi limestone
Taihu limestone
In 1503, Guo Xu paintedMi Fu Bowing to a Rock.The 11th-century calligrapherMi Fu,often regarded as eccentric, believed that some of these rocks had their own souls and would pay them his respects by bowing.

References

^^a ^b ^cMetropolitan Museum of Art,"The World of Scholars' Rocks Gardens, Studios, and Paintings";retrieved 2012-12-20.
^Harvard Shanghai Center,"Scholar Stone";retrieved 2012-12-20.
^Brokaw, Charles. (2011).The Temple Mount Code,p. 73.
^^a ^bCousins, Craig. (2006).Bonsai Master Class,p. 246.
^Lingbi Stone and Asian Art Collection Archived2019-01-25 at theWayback Machine.(2014)
^Cousins,p. 247.
^Hereford, Richard; Thompson, Kathryn S.; Burke, Kelly J. (1998)."Numerical Ages of Holocene Tributary Debris Fans Inferred from Dissolution Pitting on Carbonate Boulders in the Grand Canyon of Arizona".Quaternary Research.50(2): 139–147.Bibcode:1998QuRes..50..139H.doi:10.1006/qres.1998.1987.
^"Underwater dissolutional pitting on dolostones, Lake Huron-Georgian bay, Ontario".Archived fromthe originalon 2017-09-10.
^National Park Service,"CAVE GEOLOGY: Dissolution and decoration"(PDF),Carlsbad Caverns,U.S. Department of the Interior,archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2023-01-23
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^eMendelson, John."Chinese scholars' rocks simultaneously original and simulacrum" at ArtNet.com,1996; retrieved 2012-12-20>
^Smith, Roberta (1996-05-31)."ART REVIEW;Old Chinese Rocks: Rorschach Blots In 3 Dimensions".New York Times.Retrieved2014-07-10.
^Harvard Museums,"Scholar's rock", 1993 painting;Linrothe, Robert N. (2004).Paradise and Plumage: Chinese Connections in Tibetan Arhat Painting,p. 24;retrieved 2012-12-20.

External links

Media related toScholar's rocksat Wikimedia Commons

[metropolitan-1] Metropolitan Museum of Art,"The World of Scholars' Rocks Gardens, Studios, and Paintings";retrieved 2012-12-20.

[2] Harvard Shanghai Center,"Scholar Stone";retrieved 2012-12-20.

[3] Brokaw, Charles. (2011).The Temple Mount Code,p. 73.

[cousins246-4] Cousins, Craig. (2006).Bonsai Master Class,p. 246.

[lingbistone-5] Lingbi Stone and Asian Art Collection Archived2019-01-25 at theWayback Machine.(2014)

[6] Cousins,p. 247.

[7] Hereford, Richard; Thompson, Kathryn S.; Burke, Kelly J. (1998)."Numerical Ages of Holocene Tributary Debris Fans Inferred from Dissolution Pitting on Carbonate Boulders in the Grand Canyon of Arizona".Quaternary Research.50(2): 139–147.Bibcode:1998QuRes..50..139H.doi:10.1006/qres.1998.1987.

[8] "Underwater dissolutional pitting on dolostones, Lake Huron-Georgian bay, Ontario".Archived fromthe originalon 2017-09-10.

[9] National Park Service,"CAVE GEOLOGY: Dissolution and decoration"(PDF),Carlsbad Caverns,U.S. Department of the Interior,archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2023-01-23

[mendelson-10] Mendelson, John."Chinese scholars' rocks simultaneously original and simulacrum" at ArtNet.com,1996; retrieved 2012-12-20>

[nyt96-11] Smith, Roberta (1996-05-31)."ART REVIEW;Old Chinese Rocks: Rorschach Blots In 3 Dimensions".New York Times.Retrieved2014-07-10.

[12] Harvard Museums,"Scholar's rock", 1993 painting;Linrothe, Robert N. (2004).Paradise and Plumage: Chinese Connections in Tibetan Arhat Painting,p. 24;retrieved 2012-12-20.

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