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Japanese Neodani Chrysanthemum stone-Biseki. A beautiful mountain shaped specimen with an excellent Kikaseki on the top like snow-The matrix has flashes of green and red. The Chrysanthemum is almost three dimensional and extremely good. The back of the Biseki is also very beautiful with many colours and patterns

10cm×16cm×5cm

£445

These are large images thumb nailed. Click to see

A remarkable Kikaseki-unpolished Chrysanthemum Stone from Neodani, Japan with more Chrysanthemums showing around the matrix which is in a very rare green, white red and flashes of violet. Like a Christmas star on the top of a pine tree. With a Kiri Bako box for this unique Kikaseki

£490

7cm×8cm×6cm 2.8x 3.4x2.4inches

£225

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This is a large Japanese polished Kikaseki with Chrysanthemums on both sides. On an old 1930's Daiza-stand £640

Progenitor of Life and Bringer of Wisdom

In China the 4 cardinal points of the compass are related to ‘4 Celestial Animals’. These are: the dragon of the east, the tiger of the west, the phoenix of the south and the tortoise of the north.

Turtles and tortoises are frequently depicted in popular culture as easygoing, patient, and wise creatures, snapping turtles aside. Due to their long lifespan, slow movement, sturdiness, and wrinkled appearance, they are an emblem of longevity and stability in many cultures around the world. Turtles are regularly incorporated into human culture, with painters, photographers, poets, songwriters, and sculptors using them as subjects. They have an important role in mythologies around the world, and are often implicated in creation myths regarding the origin of the Earth. Sea turtles are a charismatic mega fauna and are used as symbols of the marine environment and environmentalism.

As a result of its role as a slow, peaceful creature in culture, the turtle can be misconceived as a sedentary animal; however, many types of turtle, especially sea turtles, frequently migrate over large distances in oceans

In Japan, the turtle has developed a more independent tradition than the other three prominent beasts of China. The minogame (蓑亀), which is so old it has a train of seaweed growing on its back, is a symbol of longevity and felicity. A minogame has an important role in the well-known legend of Urashima Tarō.

According to traditional Japanese beliefs, the tortoise is a haven for immortals and the world mountain, and symbolizes longevity, good luck, and support. It is the symbol of Kumpira, the god of seafaring people.

The tortoise is a favoured motif by netsuke-carvers and other artisans, and is featured in traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies. There is also a well-known artistic pattern based on the nearly hexagonal shape of a tortoise’s shell. These patterns are usually composed of symmetrical hexagons, sometimes with smaller hexagons within them.
China
In Chinese symbolism the tortoise represents the beginning of creation, time, longevity and wisdom. It is said that the Goddess of Creation – Nu Kua used the feet of the Cosmic Tortoise for the ‘4 Corners of the Earth’ and its shell for the ‘Vault of the Heavens’.

Rarely is a distinction made between the tortoise and the turtle and together they are associated with the element of water, the season of winter and the direction of north – the direction of death / rebirth. The ability to slow down its body metabolism (apparently dying), during winter hibernation, and then awake renewed, reflect the death /rebirth association.

The tortoise is sometimes known as the ‘Dark Warrior’ and in this role its qualities are seen as strength, endurance and regeneration. Its inanimate shell represents the lifeless rock that is acted upon by the elements of nature and by divine inspiration (the breath of the heavens) to produce life. This scenario is dramatised in the novel ‘A Journey to the West’ where Monkey (and by analogy humanity), is born as the Stone Monkey, from an egg shaped rock. Thus born into the light, he must become a warrior and encounter his dark or shadow side.

Another Chinese legend tells of how a family were trapped within a cave and were able to survive for many hundreds of years (yes - hundreds), by observing and copying a tortoise that was trapped in the cave with them.

The earliest Chinese written characters are to be found carved on tortoise shells.

Chinese artwork will sometimes show a snake and tortoise entwined and it is said that their coupling engendered the universe. Other artworks show a tortoise with a crane, and when these two animals are together it is specifically a symbol that emphasises longevity.
Tortoise entwined with a snake.

Japan; In Japanese mythology, the tortoise is support to the ‘Abode of the Immortals’ and for the ‘Cosmic Mountain’, where the Cosmic Mountain relates to the axis mundi – the world axis

A large Biseki Neodani double chrysanthemum stone in a Mountain scape

25cm×22cm×6cm　9.8 x8.7x2.4  inches A long sim Kikaseki Biseki £575

A wonderful Biseki with chrysanthemums covering the stone.  Remarkable colour in a rare red throughout.

Spectacular in every sense.

10cm×23cm×8cm  / 3.9x9.1x3.1 inches £750