Modern Suiseki

About Shimagata and Iwagata-ishi

Shimagata-ishi and Iwagata-ishi are one of classifications of Suiseki by shape.

Shimagata is "島形" in Kanji, a Chinese character, and its meaning is island. Iwagata is "岩潟" in Kanji and its meaning is cliffed coast or rocky coast.

In Suiseki, Shimagata-ishi and Iwagata-ishi are not distinguished sometimes.

However, Shimagata-ishi is stone suggestive of island and therefore, distant view.

On the other hand, Iwagata-ishi is stone suggestive of rocky coast and therefore, close-range view.

For me, Shimagata-ishi is derived from Toyama.

Honestly speaking, Toyoyama is the best shape for landscape but there are many stones which cannot be suggestive of distant mountain.

So, these stones may be treated as Shimagata-ishi if quality of stone is good enough for appreciation.

The above may not be true, but good Shimagata-ishi are rarely seen.

On the other hand, I believe that Iwagata-ishi is suited for Suiseki. There are many stones having rough surface suggestive of rocky coast.

If you see good Iwagata-ishi, you can easily imagine spray, splash and ocean waves on the rock.

Therefore, Shimagata-ishi and Iwagata-ishi are viewed good in a suiban, a water-basin.

Ibigawa-ishi - Shimagata-ishi

Kasugawa-ishi - Shimagata-ishi

Hakkaisan-seki - Iwagata-ishi