Chinese and Japanese scholar's stones, also known as scholar's rocks or gongshi in Chinese and suiseki in Japanese, are natural rocks or stones that are admired for their aesthetic and symbolic qualities. They have a long history in both Chinese and Japanese art and culture.

In China, the tradition of appreciating scholar's rocks dates back to the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), when they were first collected and displayed in gardens, courtyards, and indoor spaces. These rocks were often chosen for their unusual shapes, textures, and colors, and were regarded as miniature landscapes that could evoke a sense of tranquility and contemplation.

During the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD), the appreciation of scholar's rocks became more refined, and collectors began to display them on specially designed wooden stands, known as dai. These stands were often decorated with intricate carvings or inscriptions, and were intended to complement more...

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A set of four Chinese Gongshi scholar's rocks on stands, 20th…

Set of Four Chinese Gongshi Scholar's Rocks on Stands

A set of four Chinese Gongshi scholar's rocks on stands, 20th century the mountainous shaped natural black and white rocks, three with carved wooden fitted stands, one without stand. Height: 13 cm length: 33 cm width: 11 cm and smaller

A large Chinese Taihu scholar's rock, with a fitted wood stand.…

Chinese Taihu Scholar's Rock with Fitted Wood Stand Display

A large Chinese Taihu scholar's rock, with a fitted wood stand. 93.5 x 45 x 35.5 cm, weight 85kg.

A Chinese Taihu scholar's rock, with a carved fitted wood stand.…

Chinese Taihu Scholar's Rock on Carved Wood Stand

A Chinese Taihu scholar's rock, with a carved fitted wood stand. 42.8 cm high

An impressive Chinese jadeite scholar's stone on carved wooden…

Chinese jadeite scholar's stone on carved wooden base, 52 cm high

An impressive Chinese jadeite scholar's stone on carved wooden base, 52 cm high overall

A Chinese jadeite scholar's rock, 38 cm high

Chinese Jadeite Scholar's Rock: 38 cm High Masterpiece

A Chinese jadeite scholar's rock, 38 cm high

Suiseki Japanese scholar's stone on fitted carved timber stand,…

Suiseki Scholar's Stone on Carved Stand, 40cm High

Suiseki Japanese scholar's stone on fitted carved timber stand, 40 cm high overall

Tiahu antique Chinese scholar's rock with carved wooden stand,…

Antique Chinese Scholar's Rock with Carved Wooden Stand, 19th/20th Century

Tiahu antique Chinese scholar's rock with carved wooden stand, 19th/20th century, 27 cm high overall

A Chinese Taihu scholar's rock with fitted carved wood stand,…

Chinese Taihu Scholar's Rock with Carved Stand

A Chinese Taihu scholar's rock with fitted carved wood stand, 43 cmx30 cm

A Chinese red Taihu scholar's rock with fitted carved wood stand

Red Taihu Scholar's Rock with Carved Stand

A Chinese red Taihu scholar's rock with fitted carved wood stand

A Chinese small scholar's rock with a fitted wood stand., 24.5…

Chinese Scholar's Rock with Fitted Stand

A Chinese small scholar's rock with a fitted wood stand., 24.5 cm long. Provenance: The Edrina collection, U.K., Hong Kong and Sydney.

Chinese scholars rock on timber stand 24 cm length, 13 cm height

Chinese Scholars on Timber Stand

Chinese scholars rock on timber stand 24 cm length, 13 cm height

An ancient Chinese large and impressive Lingbi scholars rock,…

Impressive Lingbi Scholars Rock on Carved Stand

An ancient Chinese large and impressive Lingbi scholars rock, on carved hardwood stand imitating waves, stone 42 cm high 41 cm wide, overall 54 cm high on stand

A Chinese scholar's rock, height 30 cm, 47 cm x 22 cm

Chinese Scholar Rock: 30cm Height, 47cm x 22cm

A Chinese scholar's rock, height 30 cm, 47 cm x 22 cm

Vintage Chinese carved scholar's stone carved pagoda image to…

Chinese Scholar's Stone with Carved Pagoda, 20cm Height

Vintage Chinese carved scholar's stone carved pagoda image to stone, height 20 cm

An oriental arched 'lingbi' scholars rock on stand, dark tone,…

Oriental Scholars Rock on Mountain Stand

An oriental arched 'lingbi' scholars rock on stand, dark tone, pierced and contorted; bridge' form. On stand with extensive mountainous top raised on four bar form supports with stretchered base. 33 x 12 x 47.5 cm.

A lingbi scholar's rock, stand, 28.3 cm high, 28.8 cm wide.…

Lingbi Scholar's Rock with Stand

A lingbi scholar's rock, stand, 28.3 cm high, 28.8 cm wide. Provenance: Gora Singh Mann Collection, Wollongong, no. 1060

Unusual Chinese scholar's rock, of organic form with…

Organic Scholar's Rock with Wooden Stand

Unusual Chinese scholar's rock, of organic form with characteristic hollows, in pale tones, together with wooden stand, total height 16.5 cm

A Japanese Furuyaishi style rock mountain, 20th century, the…

Japanese Furuyaishi Style Rock Mountain Sculpture

A Japanese Furuyaishi style rock mountain, 20th century, the upright stone form with ridges resembling a craggy mountain, the surface with natural pale inclusions, on a conforming stand, 22.5 cm high, 52 cm wide, 23 cm deep

An old Oriental scholar's rock on stand, the naturally…

Oriental Scholar's Rock on Stand

An old Oriental scholar's rock on stand, the naturally weathered and layered rock in fitted hardwood stand with stretcher base. 48 x 21 x 30 cm.

A Chinese scholar's stone on wooden base, 17 cm high, 20 cm wide

Chinese Scholar's Stone on Wooden Base

A Chinese scholar's stone on wooden base, 17 cm high, 20 cm wide

A Chinese scholar's stone, solid river washed lapis lazuli, 28…

River-Washed Lapis Lazuli Scholar's Stone

A Chinese scholar's stone, solid river washed lapis lazuli, 28 cm high, 22 cm wide

A Chinese scholar's stone, polished agate revealing a windswept…

Windswept Agate Scholar's Stone on Carved Stand

A Chinese scholar's stone, polished agate revealing a windswept landscape, on carved wooden stand, 18 cm high, 22 cm wide

Chinese scholars rock, of organic form, in brown tones, resting…

Organic Chinese Scholar Rocks on Wooden Stand

Chinese scholars rock, of organic form, in brown tones, resting in a carved wooden stand, height 17 cm

A Chinese scholar's rock, dragon shaped, on a carved rosewood…

Dragon Scholar's Rock on Rosewood Stand

A Chinese scholar's rock, dragon shaped, on a carved rosewood stand, width 70 cm

Chinese dragon head scholars rock, of organic form with…

Organic Chinese Dragon Head Rock on Wooden Stand

Chinese dragon head scholars rock, of organic form with textured surface in dark tones, set on a wooden stand, height 42 cm (including stand)

Chinese scholars rock, of horizontal form, in tones of black…

Horizontal Chinese Scholar Rocks on Stand

Chinese scholars rock, of horizontal form, in tones of black and brown, on stand, 15 x 33 x 25 cm

Chinese scholars rock, of natural form, in tones of grey and…

Chinese Scholar Rocks on Wooden Stand

Chinese scholars rock, of natural form, in tones of grey and brown bands, on wooden stand, length 27 cm

Chinese scholars rock, of organic form, in tones of brown and…

Organic Chinese Scholars on Custom Stand

Chinese scholars rock, of organic form, in tones of brown and white, with a customised wooden stand, length 36 cm

Chinese scholars rock, of natural form, in grey tones with vein…

Crystal Vein Chinese Scholar Rock on Stand

Chinese scholars rock, of natural form, in grey tones with vein of crystal running down one edge, on stand, length 33 cm

A Chinese scholars rock, 20th century, the upright dark stone…

Mountainous Scholar's Rock on Hardwood Base

A Chinese scholars rock, 20th century, the upright dark stone scholar's rock well figured with crevasses and small holes, suggestive of a mountainous landscape, on a fitted hardwood base., 17 cm high, 15 cm wide.

A Chinese Taihu scholar's rock, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) or…

Chinese Scholar's Rock with Stand

A Chinese Taihu scholar's rock, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) or 20th century, the pale coloured stone of upright form with a wide top and narrow bottom, with many holes throughout, on a fitted hardwood stand., with stand, 51 cm high, 21 cm wide.

A Chinese red wax stone scholar's rock, Jiangxi Province, Qing…

Red Wax Stone Scholar's Rock on Carved Stand

A Chinese red wax stone scholar's rock, Jiangxi Province, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), 19th/Early 20th century, the waxy red upright stone with good colouring and patina, mounted on a fitted intricately carved, brown-lacquered fruitwood stand depicting…

Unusual Chinese scholars rock, of organic form with…

Organic Chinese Scholar Rock with Wooden Stand

Unusual Chinese scholars rock, of organic form with characteristic hollows and perforations, in pale tones, together with wooden stand, height 24 cm. Provenance: Sotheby's Melbourne 18 July 2018, lot 312

Chinese scholars rock, of natural form, in tones of black and…

Chinese Rock Scholars on Red and Black Stand

Chinese scholars rock, of natural form, in tones of black and red, on wooden stand, height 37 cm

A large clear kauri gum boulder, old polished finish, clear…

Clear Kauri Gum Boulder: Scholar's Rock Form

A large clear kauri gum boulder, old polished finish, clear clarity evident, of long mountainous scholar's rock type form. 910gm, length 25.5 cm.

A 'Ying' scholar's rock, resembling the form of mountain cliffs,…

Dark Grey Ying Scholar's Rock with Jagged Formations

A 'Ying' scholar's rock, resembling the form of mountain cliffs, the irregular structure with jagged formations deeply ridged and crevassed, the material of very dark grey tone, wood stand, 30 cm high

A Chinese or Japanese Scholars' rock, early 20th century, the…

Scholars' Rock with Carved Wooden Base

A Chinese or Japanese Scholars' rock, early 20th century, the natural stone of dark grey colour streaked with vertical and diagonal pale grey inclusions, appearing like a distant mountain layered with clouds. Together with a carved fitted wooden base with…

Pair of Chinese bamboo wrist rests, one carved with a figure of…

Chinese Bamboo Wrist Rests with Immortal and Scholar's Rock

Pair of Chinese bamboo wrist rests, one carved with a figure of an immortal the other carved with scholars rock, both signed, length 25,5 cm, 23 cm (2)

Delightful Chinese scholars rock, of pierced and shaped form,…

Chinese Scholar Rocks on Wooden Stand

Delightful Chinese scholars rock, of pierced and shaped form, mounted upon a wooden stand, height 39 cm

Seiseki scholar's stone on a carved wooden base, Japanese,…

Meiji Seiseki Scholar's Stone on Carved Wooden Base

Seiseki scholar's stone on a carved wooden base, Japanese, Meiji period, 19th century, 33 cm across

Chinese scholars stone with finely carved immortals on both…

Chinese Immortal Stone on Carved Timber Stand

Chinese scholars stone with finely carved immortals on both sides, on a carved timber base, 21.5 cm high including stand

A vintage Oriental scholar's rock on stand, arched and pierced…

Vintage Oriental Scholar's Rock on Knobbly Stand

A vintage Oriental scholar's rock on stand, arched and pierced form, good dark tone, the carved wood stand with knobbly type detail, raised on five scrolling legs. Length 32 cm

A vintage Oriental high quality standing scholar's rock, the…

Oriental Scholar's Rock on Wood Stand

A vintage Oriental high quality standing scholar's rock, the pierced rock of semi-scrolling form, good dark tone, supported in a conforming wood stand raised on five scrolling legs. Height 50.5 cm

Large Chinese scholars rock, following the natural form of the…

Chinese Scholar's Rock on Wooden Stand, 44cm Height

Large Chinese scholars rock, following the natural form of the rock, with perforations, uon wooden stand, height 44 cm

Large Chinese scholars rock, following the natural form of the…

Chinese Scholar Rock on Wooden Stand

Large Chinese scholars rock, following the natural form of the rock, with perforations, upon a wooden stand, height 51 cm

A scholar's rock mountain, with rich Colouration, the dimpled…

Colorful Scholar's Rock Mountain on Glossy Stand

A scholar's rock mountain, with rich Colouration, the dimpled mountain has a glossy surface, on fitted stand, height 16 cm, width 34 cm, depth 10 cm

A scholar's rock, (2), with characteristic hollows and…

Hollowed Scholar's Rock on Wood Stand

A scholar's rock, (2), with characteristic hollows and perforations, the cream coloured stone of waxy appearance, with overall russet suffusions, fitted wood stand, (2), 34 cm high

A Chinese scholar's rock, Selected to Resemble a mountain,…

Daoist Mountain Rock Sculpture

A Chinese scholar's rock, Selected to Resemble a mountain, Daoist Philosophy, an inspiration for creativity while working in the Studio, naturally coloured & shaped & polished by a craftsman, height 31, length 31 cm

A jade scholar's rock, the rich green stone with multiple…

Green Mountain Ridge Jade Scholar's Rock

A jade scholar's rock, the rich green stone with multiple creamy inclusions, resembling a mountain ridge. Length 28 cm

Chinese scholars rock, in tones of brown and orange, on wooden…

Chinese Scholar Rocks on Wooden Stand

Chinese scholars rock, in tones of brown and orange, on wooden stand, height 20 cm

A carved wood 'scholars' mountain, Qing dynasty, resembling…

Qing Dynasty Carved Wood 'Scholars' Mountain

A carved wood 'scholars' mountain, Qing dynasty, resembling chenxiang wood, naturalistically carved in the round as a mountainous landscape, one side with small figures beside thatched huts, set in valleys among the tall cliffs, fitted wood stand and box,…

A carved wood 'scholars' mountain Qing dynasty, (2),…

Qing Dynasty Wood Carving: Scholars on Mountain Landscape

A carved wood 'scholars' mountain Qing dynasty, (2), naturalistically carved in the round as a mountainous landscape, one side with two scholars seated playing chess and two others standing nearby on a rocky promontary, with flights of steps leading to…

A Chinese scholar's rock of opaque quartz with black…

Misty Mountain Scholar's Rock

A Chinese scholar's rock of opaque quartz with black tourmaline-like inclusions reminiscent of mist in a mountain landscape. On wooden stand. Height 14 cm

A 'Lingbi' scholar's rock, resembling a grotto, the dark grey…

Lingbi Scholar's Rock: Grotto-like Stone on Wood Stand

A 'Lingbi' scholar's rock, resembling a grotto, the dark grey stone with paler fissures across the heavily ridged and perforated body, fitted wood stand, 40 cm wide

A large scholar's rock, the weathered surface with hollows and…

Weathered Scholar's Rock on Stand - 117cm

A large scholar's rock, the weathered surface with hollows and perforations in the cream coloured stone, fitted wood stand, 117 cm high

A Chinese 'Scholars rock' sculpture, the free form sculpture…

Chinese Scholars Rock Sculpture on Wooden Stand

A Chinese 'Scholars rock' sculpture, the free form sculpture positioned on a carved wooden stand. 50 cm high.

A 'Lingbi' scholar's rock, (2) resembling the form of a large…

Lingbi Scholar's Rock Resembling Large Bird

A 'Lingbi' scholar's rock, (2) resembling the form of a large bird, the dark grey stone with paler fissures extending diagonally over the deeply ridged body, fitted wood stand, (2), 68 cm long

Scholars rock fitted on wooden stand, 33 cm overall height

Scholars Rock on Wooden Stand - 33cm Height

Scholars rock fitted on wooden stand, 33 cm overall height

A high relief moulded bowl of lingzhi fungus form with shallow…

Lingzhi Fungus Bowl with Dragon and Bat Relief

A high relief moulded bowl of lingzhi fungus form with shallow rounded sides, the stem arched to form a handle and applied with a dragon, a bat, flowering sprays and further lingzhi stems in high relief around the rim, and enclosing on the interior a…

A large Chinese white stone scholars rock, of natural…

Chinese White Stone Scholar's Rock on Rosewood Stand

A large Chinese white stone scholars rock, of natural stalactite form on a rosewood stand, 31 cm high

Chinese calcite & heamatite scholars rock from Hunan Province,…

Hunan Province Calcite & Heamatite Scholar's Rock on Stand

Chinese calcite & heamatite scholars rock from Hunan Province, on carved hardwood stand, measures 34 cm high, 32 cm wide

Large rare pink calcite scholars rock on carved stand from…

Rare Pink Calcite Scholar's Rock on Carved Stand

Large rare pink calcite scholars rock on carved stand from Hunan province measures 49.5 cm high, 50 cm wide, overall

A large Taihu-type scholar's rock on a fitted hardwood base. 24…

Taihu Scholar's Rock on Fitted Hardwood Base

A large Taihu-type scholar's rock on a fitted hardwood base. 24 cm high, 38 cm wide, 24 cm deep irregular

A Chinese scholar's rock on hardwood stand

Chinese Scholar's Rock on Hardwood Stand

A Chinese scholar's rock on hardwood stand

Black stone scholars rock on stand, 26 cm height

Black Stone Scholar's Rock on Stand

Black stone scholars rock on stand, 26 cm height

Chinese turquoise scholars rock on stand 11 cm ht

Chinese Turquoise Scholar Rock on Stand

Chinese turquoise scholars rock on stand 11 cm ht

A grey 'lingbi' scholar's rock, of irregular craggy form…

Dragon Head Scholar's Rock

A grey 'lingbi' scholar's rock, of irregular craggy form resembling a dragon's head, the dark grey stone with a paler striation and inclusions, wood stand, (2), 41 cm high. Literature: Compare with a scholar's rock of similar form from the Rosenblum…

A 'yellow wax' scholar's rock, with characteristic hollows and…

Yellow Wax Scholar's Rock with Wood Stand

A 'yellow wax' scholar's rock, with characteristic hollows and perforations, the yellow coloured weathered stone with some amber tones and waxy appearance, wood stand, (2), 40 cm high

A grey 'lingbi' scholar's rock, of irregular craggy form, the…

Grey Lingbi Scholar's Rock on Wood Stand

A grey 'lingbi' scholar's rock, of irregular craggy form, the dark grey stone interspersed with whitish veins and inclusions, wood stand, (2), 41 cm high

Chinese Lingbi scholars rock. In form of seated Buddha. Dark…

Lingbi Buddha Rock Sculpture

Chinese Lingbi scholars rock. In form of seated Buddha. Dark grey stone with diagonal fissures. On fitted blackwood stand. Height 37 cm (total)

A Chinese scholars rock two tone shading reminiscent of a horse,…

Chinese Scholars Rock with Horse-like Two Tone Shading

A Chinese scholars rock two tone shading reminiscent of a horse, with timber base, 15 cm

A Chinese scholar's stone, the stone of greyish and maroon…

Maroon and Grey Chinese Scholar's Stone, 28cm Tall

A Chinese scholar's stone, the stone of greyish and maroon shades, stand, 28 cm high

A 'Taihu' scholar's rock the weathered surface with hollows and…

Taihu Scholar's Rock with Fitted Stand

A 'Taihu' scholar's rock the weathered surface with hollows and perforations in the cream coloured stone with slightly darker caramel markings, fittted wood stand (2) 51 cm

A Chinese scholars rock on timber stand. Height 52 cm

Chinese Scholars Rock on Timber Stand - 52cm Height

A Chinese scholars rock on timber stand. Height 52 cm

A scholars rock on timber stand. Height 13 cm

Timber Stand Scholars Rock - 13cm Height

A scholars rock on timber stand. Height 13 cm

A Chinese scholars rock, resembling tall craggy mountains with…

Chinese Scholar's Rock with Custom Stand

A Chinese scholars rock, resembling tall craggy mountains with custom stand. Height 15.5 cm. Length 23 cm

A Chinese scholars rock on custom stand. Height 23 cm

Chinese Scholar's Rock on Stand (23cm)

A Chinese scholars rock on custom stand. Height 23 cm

An old Chinese scholar's rock (Gongshi or 'spirit' stone),…

Ming Scholar's Rock on Carved Stand

An old Chinese scholar's rock (Gongshi or 'spirit' stone), naturally formed with various holes and water worn surfaces, the central base fitted to a carved hardwood stand raised on five restrained scroll legs, the stone of dark grey colouring. (Reputedly…

Chinese scholars rock. Customised wooden base. Height 17 cm…

Chinese Scholar Statue on Wooden Base

Chinese scholars rock. Customised wooden base. Height 17 cm (total)

A Chinese natural limestone scholar's rock, supported on a…

Chinese Limestone Scholar's Rock on Hardwood Base

A Chinese natural limestone scholar's rock, supported on a fitted hardwood base. 28.5 cm; with base 34.6 cm. Provenance: A Sydney private collection, purchased around 2000

A 'Lingbi' scholar's rock resembling the form of a mythical…

Mythical Lingbi Scholar's Rock with Wood Stand

A 'Lingbi' scholar's rock resembling the form of a mythical animal, the dark grey stone with paler fissures extending diagonally over the deeply ridged body, fitted wood stand (2), 34 cm

A Chinese carved hardwood scholars rock of spikey form sitting…

Carved Chinese Hardwood Scholar's Rock, 23cm

A Chinese carved hardwood scholars rock of spikey form sitting on an even base, 23 cm high. 24 cm high

Chinese scholar?s stone, with wood stand. Width 28.5 cm

Chinese Scholar's Stone with Wood Stand

Chinese scholar?s stone, with wood stand. Width 28.5 cm

An old Chinese scholar's rock, grey colourway with natural…

Textured Scholar's Rock on Shaped Platform Base

An old Chinese scholar's rock, grey colourway with natural weathered textured finish and form including open sections, raised on a shaped platform base. 39 cm x 20 cm x 29 cm