‚a‚n‚m‚r‚d‚j‚h “ś–{Œź

Originating from the primitive man's love of curious stones, the history of'BonsekiG

|the art of arranging stones on a tray|is very old.
The Japanese people's love of stones went farther : they developed it into a unique art of.
arranging stones and sands on a tray so that the whole set makes up a fine miniature of a landscape garden.
In due course of time, it began to flourish among court nobles and high priests.
To enhance the poetical mood expressed in such a work, a Japanese 31-letter poem accompanied it.
It was quite natural that this particular art made a remarkable development and refinementCand acquired still
wider popurarity during the Muromachi Period (1393|1570A.D.) when the cults of Tea Ceremony,
Flower Arrangement, and Incense Burning flourished.
Great masters systematized the technique in various ways and founded several schools.
Our'Washu-Enzan School'was founded by a feudal lord Gyozan Yanagisawa of Kohriyama Castle located
in Ymato Province (present Nara Prefecture).
The characteristic of the technique of our school is that, the stones and sand being arranged on a black
lacquered tray, the landscape, etc.
Arranged on it give off a unique effect which is similar to that of a Sumi painting.
In this way, the author of 'Bonseki'work not only can sketch natural scenes,\land, water, sky, birds,trees
and flowers|but also can freely give expression to his poetic imagination.
It is very easy to start learning this art, and even a little school child can do it.
If some one of your family once gets a start, all the rest are sure to join him or her to enjoy this fine art.
The materials needs are simple and few besides the black lacquered tray, and the sands
can be used repeatedly for limitless times

For further informations please cotact the following:
Master of "Washu-Enzan-School of Bonseki"
SENSEKI MORIMURA
1-1-20 Kyodo, Setagaya-ku,Tokyo.
Tel. 090(2767)0909/Fax. 03-3420-0528