Scholars' Rocks from Kemin Hu

Place of origin:
He Shan of Guangxi Province

Mineral composition:
Limestone (calcite)

Quarried from He Shan, a mountain in Guangxi Province, Meng stones were shaped by water erosion. Due to the earth’s movement, the riverbed in which they were formed became dry land; the black stones were exposed to the air and underwent oxidization and efflorescence. Meng stones in their natural state are dark gray with myriad wavelike surface wrinkles. When the oxidized layer of the original stone is abraded away, they become scholars’ rocks we see today, with smooth and lustrous surfaces, a variety of shapes, and producing a sound when tapped. Since the stones are quite hard, further reshaping is difficult even after the oxidized layer is removed.

Although local He Shan residents may not be familiar with the works of Picasso or Henry Moore, they are aware that the mineral composition of Meng stones is similar to modern sculptural materials; as well, the dark color, hardness, and musical pitch of the stones impart a sense of modernity. Polished Meng stones in water resemble black pearls, and are so called by area residents; when removed from the water and exposed to the air for some time they will return to the original color of gray.