Product Review

Revered by Chinese connoisseurs and literati since the Tang dynasty (618-907) or earlier, scholars' rocks have been little known in the West. As refined indoor kin of the more widely recognized Chinese garden stones, these rocks intended for studio display combine the charm of microcosm with sheer abstract beauty; whether regarded as fantastical miniature landscapes or as nonrepresentational sculpture, they invite and reward contemplation. The book accompanies an exhibition organized by Robert D. Mowry, curator of Chinese art, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University Art Museums. Essays provide rich insights into the rocks' history and social context, as well as their web of poetic, religious, and philosophical associations. Along with an abundance of research on Chinese records, the book offers ground-breaking scientific analyses in an effort to establish materials and provenance of the rocks, and of their accompanying stands, which are often regarded as minor works of art in their own right. Color plates of the eighty rocks in the exhibition are accompanied by full descriptions and extensive background materials. Maps, tables, graphs, and comparative figures further enhance this striking foundation study. With contributions by Eugene Farrell and C. Mei-An Tsu, Alan Jay Kaufman, Claudia Brown, Jan Stuart, Hugh T. Scogin, Jr., and Richard Rosenblum.