Stone of the Month: 

October 2023 

"Twister"

By Thomas Elias

A natural, unaltered Ying stone composed of marine limestone and originating in the Yingde Mountains north of Guangzhou in Guangdong province in southeastern China. This is the typical color of most collected stones from this region. These stones on or near the surface have been strongly etched by acid rain for centuries. Ying stones are one of the oldest stone types to be collected and displayed for their aesthetic qualities and ability to evoke images in our minds.  

 The leaning orientation suggests violent circular wind patterns, as seen in tornadoes. It is leaning in the direction of its path of destruction. As a child, I experienced these in and near my hometown in the midwestern United States. The numerous nearly horizontal ridges reinforce my vivid memories of the short-lived, but destructive weather events. I recall these noisy, tempestuous wind creatures whenever I look at this stone. 

This stone is 21 cm wide, 36 cm high, and 10 cm deep and is held in a traditional northern-style wood base. It was purchased in a stone market in Shanghai over 20 years ago and is in the collection of Thomas Elias and Hiromi Nakaoji.