Chinese Scholar Stones

In olden days in China the profession of a scholar was highly respected. Scholars spent so long at their desks that they were unable to go out and enjoy the beauty of nature, so they brought it inside. Chinese scholars placed the rocks on a stand made from a root to create the connection to the earth. It was more than an ornament. Every time they looked at the stone it appeared different. During the day as the light changes the reflections on the rock change.They could turn the whole rock and different views again were set before them. The rocks gave the scholars inspiration, and became a focus for meditation. The rocks were natural and unusual, eroded by wind or water for a very long time.