Lake Tai Rocks

Rocks were placed not only in gardens but also were treated as art objects to be put on display inside perhaps on a scholar s desk.

Lake tai rocks. The size of the stone can also be quite varied. The lake taihu area is rich in carbonate limestone rock and has high rainfall. Taihu lake in wuxi city according to many guidebooks tai lake is best seen from the scenic viewpoint in xihui park in the west of wuxi from the top of dragon light pagoda from which both wuxi and lake tai are visible. Click to enlarge lovely viewing stone taihu scholar rock private shanghai a0910 173 gongshi or scholar s rock based lake tai appreciating gongshi.

Video of lake tai rocks. Another well known panoramic view is from mountlongshan or mt. Posted by mya larkin on january 15 2017.

Lake tai rock a gift from suzhou portland s chinese sister city. Photograph courtesy of jerome silbergeld 1983. Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of calcite or calcium. He noticed two strange rocks of a singular form.

The growing deltas of the yangtze and qiantang rivers eventually sealed off lake tai from the sea and the influx of fresh water from rivers and rains turned lake tai into a freshwater lake. Certain types of rocks such as the lingbi rock shown to the right. Lake tai rock in three sided pavilion at the garden of the master of nets suzhou. The term also identifies stones which are placed.

The lake tai rock is a 16 foot 17 ton limestone formation shaped naturally by the waters of tai lake. Limestone calcite found mostly in the vast drainage areas of tai lake these limestone rocks are hard but brittle with slight variations among those taken from lake beds and those extracted on land or from different districts in the surrounding environs. Scholars rocks can weigh hundreds of pounds or less than one pound. It all began in china in 826 ce when bai juyi a public servant of the empire and one of the most recognized poets of his time took a walk around lake tai.

Long where the famous ancient poet su shi 1037 1101 once. A gift from portland s sister city of suzhou china the rock is inscribed with chinese characters that read rare stone calls forth the spirit from the plaque. As well as the small specimens selected to sit on tables or in niches indoors there are also numerous monumental boulders placed in landscaped gardens. Scholars rocks can be any color and contrasting colors are not uncommon.

These captivated him to such a degree that he decided to take them home. The lake is renowned for its unique limestone formations at the foot of the adjacent dongting mountain 洞庭山 these scholar s rocks or taihu stones are often prized as a decorating material for traditional chinese gardens as exemplified by those preserved as museums in nearby suzhou lake tai is best seen citation needed from atop the dragon light pagoda in western wuxi s xihui park.