Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation: Suiseki and Its Use with Bonsai [Paperback]

Vincent T. Covello (Author), Yuji Yoshimura (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1995

Written by two leading experts in the field, The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation is an exploration into the art of suiseki—small, naturally formed stones selected for their shape, balance, simplicity and tranquility. This concise introduction offers aesthetic guidance and direct practical advice. It details the essential characteristics of a high-quality suiseki, describing the various systems of stone classification and showing how to display a suiseki to its best advantage. There is also a section on incorporating suiseki with bonsai, the most popular and rewarding complement to a peaceful suiseki landscape.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vincent T. Covello is considered by many to be the foremost authority on suiseki in the United States and is also an expert on the Japanese tea ceremony.

Yuji Yoshimura is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on bonsai, Japanese horticulture, and miniature landscapes. He is a co-author of the first authoritative book on bonsai in English, The Japanese Art of Miniature Trees and Landscapes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing (December 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804820473
• ISBN-13: 978-0804820479
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #655,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the "bible" for this interesting Japanese art form., June 26, 1998

By 

[e-mail] or Jeffrey Holmes (San Antonio, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation: Suiseki and Its Use with Bonsai (Paperback)

You will never look at rocks the same after reading this book.

Mr. Yoshimura and Dr. Covello provide all the basics of viewing stone development, preparation and appreciation. All material is well-written and presented in an easy-to-understand method that makes one want to begin this art immediately.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUISEKI & BONSAI & MORE, September 27, 2008

By 

Texas Book Lover "K" (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation: Suiseki and Its Use with Bonsai (Paperback)

From the cover: Some two thousand years ago, the people of the East began to value and display stones of extraordinary natural beauty. Refined by the Japanese over the following centuries, the presentation of these impressive stones in still-life arrangements or with miniature trees has become an elegant and esteemed art form known as suiseki. The essentials of this fine art are explained in this book: a complete "how-to" guide for collectors; a primer on key Japanese concepts and terminology; advice on displaying stones; hints on combining suiseki with bonsai; advice on using suiseki in interior design; instructions for carving and preparing bases; a historical overview of suiseki; and a bilingual classification guide. 69 plates in full color.

11 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent but wrongly credited, August 19, 1999

By 

[e-mail] Harry Tomlinson (Nottingham, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation: Suiseki and Its Use with Bonsai (Paperback)

I am very disappointed and angry that a book published in 1984 by Vincent T. Covello and Yuji Yoshimura as co authors should now, since Mr Yoshimura has died and cannot comment, is describing Mr Yoshimura as a mere contributor. We all know that the Yoshimura name sold the book!