artisan's name unknown
Foundation Stone for Gojo Oo-Hashi, 14th Century (Muromachi Period)
Stone
16"x 27"
This ancient stone once served as a foundation for the Gojo Ohashi Bridge in Kyoto, Japan, spanning the Kamo River along Fifth Street. Though the bridge still stands today, it...
This ancient stone once served as a foundation for the Gojo Ohashi Bridge in Kyoto, Japan, spanning the Kamo River along Fifth Street. Though the bridge still stands today, it has been rebuilt numerous times and now rests on entirely different foundations.
In the 12th century, during Japan's feudal era, the bridge was the site of a legendary battle between the clan leader Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the warrior monk Musashibo Benkei. Benkei's defeat left his blood staining the bridge's planks—long since replaced.
This stone lay submerged beneath the water for centuries. Its large central protrusion served as a notch to receive the concave end of a wooden beam, exemplifying the sophisticated art of Japanese joinery. In Japan, ishiku (stone artisans) have long practiced the craft of stone carving, creating works considered equal to the highest forms of painting or ceramic arts. These range from lanterns and basins to structural supports like this foundation stone.
Unlike ornamental pieces, this stone was never meant to be seen. Hidden underwater for hundreds of years, it bore the immense weight of the bridge. What it lost to erosion; it gained in character. Upon finally surfacing, the stone revealed its understated beauty to the world.
Among Japan's most discerning stone connoisseurs, foundation stones are particularly revered. Their beauty stems from their lack of pretension; they simply exist, embodying the highest form of wabi aesthetics. Discovered and recognized by generations of collectors, these stones represent beauty in its purest form.
Now, this foundation stone awaits the opportunity to showcase its quiet elegance with a silent roar in a new environment and in a different country. It carries with it centuries of history and cultural significance. It commands our respect.
In the 12th century, during Japan's feudal era, the bridge was the site of a legendary battle between the clan leader Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the warrior monk Musashibo Benkei. Benkei's defeat left his blood staining the bridge's planks—long since replaced.
This stone lay submerged beneath the water for centuries. Its large central protrusion served as a notch to receive the concave end of a wooden beam, exemplifying the sophisticated art of Japanese joinery. In Japan, ishiku (stone artisans) have long practiced the craft of stone carving, creating works considered equal to the highest forms of painting or ceramic arts. These range from lanterns and basins to structural supports like this foundation stone.
Unlike ornamental pieces, this stone was never meant to be seen. Hidden underwater for hundreds of years, it bore the immense weight of the bridge. What it lost to erosion; it gained in character. Upon finally surfacing, the stone revealed its understated beauty to the world.
Among Japan's most discerning stone connoisseurs, foundation stones are particularly revered. Their beauty stems from their lack of pretension; they simply exist, embodying the highest form of wabi aesthetics. Discovered and recognized by generations of collectors, these stones represent beauty in its purest form.
Now, this foundation stone awaits the opportunity to showcase its quiet elegance with a silent roar in a new environment and in a different country. It carries with it centuries of history and cultural significance. It commands our respect.