Modern Suiseki

Setagawa Tora-ishi

There are stones called Tora-ishi. Tora means tiger and ishi means stone, so Tora-ishi means tiger stone if translating literally.

In Suiseki, Tora-ishi is a stone having yellowish-brown and black stripe pattern. Tora-ishi found in Setagawa is considered as the best.

Actually, Tora-ishi from Setagawa is celebrated for its quality and it might be called a king of Suiseki. It is because Tora-ishi from Setagawa was displayed at the right side of the room while “Message from His Majesty The Emperor(August 8, 2016)”. It is very honor for Suiseki just for displayed in such an official occasion but it has a meaning that the stone is Tora-ishi from Setagawa. Further, the video is transmitted to the world. If you have an interest, I recommend you to watch it in the website of the imperial household agency.

Of course, it is true that the episode made Tora-ishi very famous, however, Tora-ishi is very famous for a very long time because there are several charms in Tora-ishi.

The first charm is its quality.

Tora-ishi from Setagawa is considered the best which means Tora-ishi is found in locations other than Setagawa. Sometimes, Tora-ishi which can be displayed are found from Anegawa, Kasugawa, Ibigawa, Shonaigawa, Saigawa, and Aganogawa. I believe that Tora-ish can be found other rivers across Japan, however, they are not such good quality.

Dry, rough, crumbly quality, and dull color. A ratio between yellowish-brown and black stripe pattern is not good.

On the other hand, Tora-ishi form Setagawa are mildly. Black stripe pattern is not simple line but complexed texture. According to another report, Tora-ishi from Setagawa can be distinguished by the black line. If Nashiji is layered by black line or black texture is complexed, it is believed Tora-ishi from Setagawa.

Tora-ishi from Setagawa

Anyway, Tora-ishi from Setagawa is the best.

The second charm is a wide variety.

Actually, Tora-ishi from Setagawa contains Shiro Tora(white), Kuro Tora(black), Kin Tora(golden), Ame Tora(amber), Midare Tora(disorder), Tama Tora(rounded pattern), Hyou Tora(leopard pattern), Kane Tora(hard black), so there are a wide variety of Tora-ishi. Further, there are more and intermediate one including gneiss which is classified in other mineral in mineralogy.

The third charm is that Tora-ishi can be antiquated easily.

In Suiseki, antiquated state is considered important and Tora-ishi can be antiquated easily. Yellowish-brown pattern seems to be mudstone and can be infiltrating of liquid Some Tora-ishi which yellowish-brown color turns into amber is called Ame Tora and prized. It may be human-caused.

The forth charm is mysterious. Tora-ishi is generally considered yellowish-brown chart and black clay slate but I do not believe so.

Yellowish-brown seems to be originated by yellow sand and I believe that it is totally hornfels including black layer. Black layer seems to be harder than yellowish-brown but more sensitive by river erosion, so black layer become hollow than yellowish-brown. Much less study has been done on Tora-ishi but it is one charm.

The fifth charm is soft and heavy. It is related to the fourth charm which is mysterious. Yellowish-brown layer is soft and it can be formed by sandpaper but very heavy.

But yellowish-brown layer has tolerance for river erosion. Soft and tolerance for river erosion seems to be contradictory but it is interesting. Tora-ishi is very heavy. The dense and heavy state is good for Suiseki.

The above is my personal opinion. It may be not correct so, I recommend you to check Tora-ishi by yourself.

Setagawa Tora-ishi - Doha

Many characteristics of Tora-ishi can be found in this stone(Tora-ishi). Although it might be slovenly appearance if seeing from some angles, grand and extensive atmosphere can be found as a whole.

Setagawa Tora-ishi - Vertical mountain

Many characteristics of Tora-ishi can be found in this stone(Tora-ishi) also.

Setagawa Tora-ishi - vertical mountain

Usually, Tora-ishi is placed on a horizontal position for yellowish-blown and black layers, so Doha is the most popular for Tora-ishi. However, vertical position is also interesting.

Setagawa Tora-ishi - Tall Doha

This could be tall Doha but is for seeing layers.

Setagawa Tora-ishi - Doha

Yellowish-brown and black layers are jumbled together(Midare Tora) and also rounded pattern(Tama Tora) can be found.