Chinese Shoushan Stone Seal Art

Author: Fujian Province Shoushan Stone Art and Culture Research Association
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Shoushan stone is named after Shoushan Village in Fuzhou. Except for Tianhuang, the remaining 100+ varieties of colored stones are divided into two major categories: "Shuikeng" (water) and "Shankeng" (mountain). Shoushan stone carving has two major schools, the East Gate and West Gate, both of which have been passed down to this day. Shoushan inkstones were once tribute gifts to the imperial court in ancient times, with emperors collecting many of them. A tiger-clawed jade seal in the Qing imperial collection weighed as much as 12 jin. Shuikeng stone is produced along the banks of Shoushan Creek at the foot of Zhantou in the upper reaches of Shoushan Creek. Due to its abundant water flow, the stone has a dense, smooth texture, pure and jade-like, with brilliant colors, a luminous and spiritual quality, and high value. However, mining is extremely difficult, and production is low. The varieties of Shuikeng stone can be classified based on their color and resemblance, including: Xiancao Dong (herbaceous freeze), Shuijing Dong (crystal freeze), Yudi Dong (fish brain freeze), Huang Dong (yellow freeze), Huandong (ring freeze), Niujiao Dong (buffalo horn freeze), Taohua Dong (peach blossom freeze), and Manao Dong (agate freeze), among others. Shankeng stone is found in the rocks of Shoushan and Yuanyang villages. Most of it is formed over long periods from the weathering of granite and quartzite. Although the stone has low hardness, it is excellent for carving. It was discovered and used for making flower vases, stands, screens, and landscape as early as 1,500 years ago. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, many scholars and literati used it to make seals. The colors of Shuikeng stone include red, yellow, black, white, purple, and blue, with some stones displaying a mix of five colors. They are mostly named after their origins or colored by their appearance, such as Gaoshan stone, Shanbo Cave, Lychee Cave, Doucheng Pit, Qiqiang, Laoling, Liuping, Yuewei, Furong, and Emei, among others, each with its own unique characteristics. The art of carving the (claw) of Shoushan seals is unique, with the main feature being to shape the design according to the natural form of the stone. The layout is then determined based on the color, texture, and grain of the stone, creating artistic treasures that combine wonder and skill. Shoushan stone is also known as Tashan stone and is produced in Shoushan Township, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province. It is known for its fine texture and smooth, waxy luster. Shoushan stone has numerous varieties, with high-quality stones often found in Wuhua Pit, Pitou Cave, and Shuijing Cave, sometimes also referred to as Tian Pit, Shuikeng Pit, and Shankeng Pit. Tian Pit stone is detached from the stone veins and forms independent blocks, buried in sand for years. The yellow-colored stone is called "Tianhuang" (field yellow), the white-colored stone is called "Bai Tian" (white field), the black-colored stone is called "Hei Tian" (black field), and the pink-colored stone is called "Hong Tian" (pink field), all of which are premium Shoushan stones. Shuikeng stone is produced in Shoushan Pitou Cave, with its characteristic crystalline structure, appearing transparent or semi-transparent. "Yudi Dong" (fish brain freeze), "Huang Dong" (yellow freeze), "Hanscao Dong" (eel grass freeze), "Taohua Dong" (peach blossom freeze), "Niujiao Dong" (buffalo horn freeze), and "BaoPi Dong" (leopard skin freeze) are among the finest Shuikeng stones. Shankeng stone is the most common type of Shoushan stone, and most Shoushan stones on the market today are Shankeng stones. Over the past few hundred years, Chinese scholars and literati have shown a particular fondness for Shoushan stone, making it both a valuable collectible art and a practical stationery item for general appreciation. In early history, Shoushan stone was used by poets and painters as material for seals. Later, folk carvers, based on the stone's texture, color, and form, transformed it into ornamental carvings. This fully brought out the inherent characteristics of the stone, blending the content and material into ideal Shoushan stone carvings. In recent years, a collecting frenzy for Shoushan stone art has emerged in Southeast Asia. Many art enthusiasts have been captivated by the charm of Shoushan stone carvings, leading to a rapid rise in market prices. This is because high-quality carvings not only feature stones of great value but are also difficult to obtain due to the challenges of mining. After being refined by master carvers, their value continues to soar.