Modern Suiseki

About Tamari-ishi

Tamari-ishi means a pool of water stone by literal translation. Which means stone having hole to hold water.

Tamari-ishi has several variations, such as flat pot and tide pool on rocky coast.

Anyway, appreciation with pouring water into the hole of the stone creates a mysterious atmosphere and therefore, stone collectors wish to have good Tamari-ishi at least once.

Ashorogawa Stone（足寄川石）

This stone is from Ashoro river in Hokkaido.

Most of Ashorogawa stones are abstract shape and looks like some abstract sculpture.

One of the reasons for abstract shape may be its hardness.

For me, Ashorogawa stone is simple shape and beautiful and therefore, typical Tamari-ishi is Ashorogawa stone.

Ashorogawa Stone（足寄川石）

When examined in detail, it is not consistent but contains whitish or blackish spots. Nevertheless, the whole shape is smooth and gentle.

It is like an artificial curving but the fact is not. It is natural stone and attractive.

For me, Ashorogawa stone is simple shape and beautiful and therefore, typical Tamari-ishi is Ashorogawa stone.

Tamari-ishi

This stone is also Tamari-ishi but appearance is quite different. It looks like rough rocky coast or source of river deep in the mountains.

For Tamari-ishi, it is not okay if just having hole but outline shape and whole atmosphere is important.

In the case of this stone, overall round shape is good and it looks like representing closed space depart from the world.

Therefore, I like this stone.

Tamari-ishi