Stone of the Month: 

August 2013 

"Tranquil Mountains, Far from the Emperor"

This dynamic stone originates from a mountain stream in southwestern China and is reminiscent of the steeply rising mountain ranges in different regions of China including the well-known Yellow Mountains of Anhui province. Mountainous areas like this attracted the literati who wanted to escape the drudgery of their bureaucratic positions and to retreat to the remote areas to contemplate, compose poetry, paint, and write. In Imperial China, Buddhist and Taoists monks retreated to monasteries high in mountains like these. While giving the impression that this is a huge stone, it is actually only 21 cm wide, 8 cm high, and 7 cm deep at its widest point. Youlan stones often resemble mountain ranges and make excellent viewing stones.