Golden River Odd Stones

Golden River Odd Stones

　　The Jinsha River is the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, originating from the southern foot of the Kunlun Mountains. From the mouth of the Dangqu River to Yushu, it is called the Tongtian River, and below Yushu, it is known as the Jinsha River. After flowing to Yibin in Sichuan and joining the Min River, it is then called the Yangtze River (historically known as the Yangtze River or Yangzi River). The Jinsha River basin covers five provinces and regions—Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou—and spans ninety-nine cities and counties. With a drop of 5,142 meters, the river flows rapidly, and after traveling thousands of kilometers to reach the Shuifu section, various types of odd stones have been polished smooth, fine, and vibrant. In the county seat of Shuifu, another major tributary—the Guan River (known as the Hengjiang River within Sichuan)—joins the Jinsha River. Originating from the Caohai Lake in Weining, Guizhou, the Guan River passes through ten counties across Guizhou, Yunnan, and Sichuan, covering a total length of 589 kilometers before reaching Shuifu. As the Guan River traverses the deep gorges of the Wumeng Mountain Range in northwestern Guizhou and northeastern Yunnan, it enters the gentle river channels of Shuifu. Along multiple winding sections, it deposits expansive pebble beaches, providing abundant opportunities for collectors and enthusiasts to gather and discover unique stones.　　

　　 　　The Jinsha River and Guan River flow through the area for over 100 kilometers, bringing river gravel to a mature stage through prolonged water erosion, sand polishing, wave impact, and wind exposure. Among the odd stones collected by local enthusiasts, a wide range of rock types is represented, including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. These include minerals such as limonite, copper, lead-zinc, gold sand, quartz, phosphorus, sulfur, as well as rocks like granite and basalt. From an aesthetic perspective, the color varieties are remarkably diverse—examples include colorful wax stones, painted pottery stones, white wax stones, yellow wax stones, plum blossom jade, peony jade, white jade, colored jade, jadeite, opal, crystals, agate, amber, liver-colored stone, coarse stones, Taihu stone-like stones, Lingbi stone-like stones, as well as marine fossils, petrified wood, ancient animal fossils, and silica fossils, totaling over 40 types. In terms of shape and patterns, there are landscape stones, veined stones, pictorial stones, text stones, and pictographic stones. Truly, the variety of stone types is extensive, with vibrant and dazzling colors. The images they present are incredibly lifelike. Visitors from other regions who come to Shuifu and see the many pebble beaches along the two rivers can't help but express admiration. Local stone enthusiasts also take great pride in the rich odd stone resources available to them.　　

　　 　　Influenced by the nationwide "stone appreciation movement," Shuifu’s stone enthusiasts gradually came to recognize the role of odd stones in bringing “joy and appreciation” to social life. Starting in the early 1990s, some people began collecting (or picking up) odd stones from the Jinsha River, later expanding to the Guan River (Hengjiang River). On January 1, 2003, the "Shuifu County Odd Stones & Root Art Association" was established, with over 60 members. During that year’s Spring Festival, the association held the "Shuifu County Jinsha River Odd Stones & Root Art Exhibition," which received an enthusiastic response from the public. A silent stone, through its shape, texture, color, patterns, and imagery, presents to people mountains, waters, flowers, birds, insects, fish, human figures, animals, texts, and many scenes that are still difficult to fully interpret—all demonstrating how wondrous and beautiful nature can be. Through these odd stones, collectors and enthusiasts feel as if each one is telling a touching or thrilling legendary story through vivid and expressive visuals. Stone enthusiasts also pour their own passion into cherishing, interpreting, and savoring each unique stone. Their determination in searching for the perfect stone—climbing mountains, overcoming obstacles, braving wind and rain without hesitation, and showing unwavering perseverance—reflects a deep, almost spiritual bond between them and the stones. The connection between stone seekers and the stones they find is something outsiders may find hard to comprehend.　　

　　 　　How to enrich one’s knowledge of stone appreciation and elevate the quality of odd stones is a common concern among enthusiasts. Knowledge is accumulated over time through continuous learning, but individual energy is limited, and not everything can be explored. For stone appreciation, a practical shortcut is to study subjects closely related to the hobby, addressing immediate needs. Even last-minute preparation is better than none at all.　　

　　 　　First is aesthetics—an essential aspect of stone appreciation. When collectors pick up odd stones, the first thing they determine is: what qualifies as an odd stone, and what is just an ordinary stone? “Odd” refers to something rare, special, unexpected, and capable of evoking surprise and wonder. However, not all that is odd is necessarily beautiful. To distinguish between them, we use the six criteria of “form, texture, pattern, color, meaning, and beauty” to initially evaluate whether a stone is worth selecting. Among these six elements, “beauty” is the overarching factor—“picking” is for the purpose of “appreciation.” Appreciating a stone first and foremost means deriving “aesthetic pleasure” from the object—the odd stone itself. Whether it is a pictorial stone, a veined stone, or a stone with a distinct image, it should offer a sense of beauty—that is, a perception, feeling, joy, and enjoyment derived from its aesthetics. If not, the significance of that “odd stone” is lost.　　

　　 　　Second is to learn some art theory and painting knowledge. Among stone enthusiasts, those with even a basic understanding of art theory and painting often have an edge in finding and selecting stones—this is how knowledge gives one a discerning eye. We often hear remarks like: “The pattern on this stone resembles an impressionist painting by a certain artist,” or “The imagery of this stone reflects the mood of a line from a Tang poem.” In the first case, the speaker demonstrates an understanding of art, while in the second, literary appreciation. Many patterns or shapes found in stones are unique—some are representational, others abstract or symbolic. They vary in texture and color. Personal knowledge, interests, and preferences guide what one chooses and how one appreciates them. Studying both Chinese and international art theories, blending diverse perspectives, and achieving mastery will certainly prove highly beneficial.　　

　　 　　Third is to read more literature and history to better understand odd stones. As mentioned earlier, bringing a “odd stone” home is just the beginning—it is still a raw stone. Turning it into a complete artwork involves five processes: cleaning, preservation, mounting, display, and naming. Among these, mounting and naming are acts of artistic creation. Mounting is a form of carving art. The design of the base must align with the stone’s shape, imagery, underlying themes, and artistic conception. The base serves to complement the stone, much like green leaves highlight red flowers. Its role is to stabilize the stone, establish its visual presence, and enhance its theme—as if stars surround the moon, drawing focus to the central message. The base and stone enhance each other beautifully.