Underlying Concepts of Korean Suseok
1. Scenic Landscape Stone and Scenic Landscape Painting
Scenic landscape stone is called San Sui Seki in Japanese and San Su Seok in
Korean. The same Chinese characters are used in both the Japanese and the Korean
languages, but are pronounced differently. In short, It is called Suiseki in Japanese and
Suseok in Korean.
Scenic landscape painting is called San Sui Goh in Japanese and San Su Wha
in Korean. The same Chinese characters are also used in the Japanese and the Korean
languages.
Why is landscape written with letters representing San (mountain) and Su
(water)? According to geomorphic discipline (poong-su or feng-shui), it can be
explained that San represents where Chi energy is collected, and Su represents where
Chi energy stops flowing. San Su represents where life is formed.Therefore, it can be
said that landscape paintings and landscape stones are transcribed in living form.
What are the main contributing factors in composing landscape painting? These
factors must be considered when collecting artistic landscape stones.
What is literati painting? It is a scholastic art that is metaphysical and symbolic. It
is a subjective vision (view) painting. It is not a painting that is exactly duplicated from
landscape scenes.Therefore, literati stones must be subjective vision (view) stones, and
they must contain scholastic ideology. They must be more than a "look alike" stone,
which means that they must be more than a stone collection based on external
appearances.
2. Concept of Chi and Viewing Stone
It will be difficult for Westerners to understand and feel the concepts, but you
cannot appreciate the Asian culture (including stone culture) without the understanding
of the Chi concept.
It is my understanding that according to Archaic Roman religion, the Romans
believed every person, place, and thing had its own "Genius" or divine soul. Therefore,
the CHI concept is not only an Asian concept, but also a European concept.
It was very surprising to find what Mr. Willi Benz (renowned Suiseki collector,
past president of the European Suiseki Association) wrote in his book, The Asian Art of
Beautiful Stones, ISBN 3-00-0115-20-X, "Certainly stones of unusual shape and color
were admired solely for their beauty but a decisive factor in this inclination were
thousand year old religious and cosmological concepts, supplemented by the close
relationship of man to nature. According to the ancient Chinese view, all objects and
living beings in its entire world were filled with a pervasive, vital energy called QI."
I am glad to find that someone in Suiseki Arina wrote this. I have followed this
ancient concept when I collected stones and when I wrote my book.
3. Ideology of Korean Literati during 1400-1850
It was the period when Neo-Confucianism (founded by Zhu-Xi) flourished. The
goal was to teach the Neo-Confucian classics in order to accomplish the harmonious and humanistic natural orders for establishing a tranquil and moral society.
The classics were written by Zhu-Xi scholars to explain the ways of nature and
its influence on humans, putting much emphasis on the code of proper personal
conducts. The main doctrine was based on the concepts of Chi and it "self directed
way" called Li.
During this period, there was rapid growth of the Neo-Confucian Yang-Ban literati
class, while Buddhism was oppressed. The claim was that Buddhism was a non-
productive religion. At a later period, Neo-Confucianism became dogmatic (theoretical)
so as to prevent social change and economical development, resulting in late industrial
modernization.
It is to my knowledge that in Japan, the official philosophy of the Tokugawa
period (1603-1867) was also Neo-Confucianism. Zen Buddhists introduced the concept
in Japan. Buddhism co-existed alongside Neo-Confucianism in Japan, but not in Korea;
that is where the difference exists in stone appreciation. Korean Suseok put less
emphasis on meditation (Zen Buddhism) as part of "Wabi-Sabi".
4. Yang-Ban Literati Scholars
(15-20% of the population)
The Yang-Bans were Confucian scholarly officials of the ruling class. The title
was designated to those people who passed the difficult dynasty-sponsored civil service
exam.
Korean Neo-Confucianism was the fundamental ideology that shaped the way of
life including moral systems as well as legal systems, putting much emphasis on
royalty, filial piety, benevolence, and trust.
The rules that governed Yang-Bans were severely rigid. They were expected to
follow the code of conduct based on appropriateness and righteousness in order to be
prepared to sacrifice their lives.
5. Character of Literati Art
Most of the seniors in the Yang-Ban class were accomplished artists, practicing
calligraphy and black ink painting. The two skills required much practice and were
considered to be the most appropriate for literati scholars.
The desired motifs representing the Confucian scholars were monochromatic
black ink paintings of bamboo, orchid, plum, and chrysanthemum. These four plants
were called the four gentleman, originally associated with the four seasons. They
symbolized the ideology of the scholars. So the most important criteria in classical
Suseok is the three friends of winter, the four gentlemen, the 10 longevity symbols, and mountain forms.
The Confucian aesthetic value of Korean art is restrained and understated. It
should also be unforced natural forms. If my viewing stones do not contain these two
characteristics, then I have failed.
6. Myth of Stone Appreciation by Korean Literati Scholars
There is a tendency to relate the stone appreciation with literati scholars to
elevate the status of viewing stones.
Usually, scholars did not have time to enjoy the stone appreciation due to lack of
time from having to study to pass the civil service exam. Even after passing the exam, it
took a long time to be promoted to a ranking scholar.
The wise scholars did not accumulate wealth (ex. decorating the house with
stones) to avoid criticism from political enemies.
It was inappropriate for scholars to do physical work. They had long finger nails
to show off their status, and so they did not collect stones and they did not make
wooden bases.
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