viewing stone; decorative stone; scholar's rock
Refers to a naturally formed stone appreciated for its aesthetic qualities, often displayed indoors on a wooden base (台) or in a tray of sand or water. Associated with traditional Japanese stone appreciation (水石) and related to Chinese scholar's rocks.
My grandfather displays a viewing stone in the alcove.
The beauty of a viewing stone lies in the shapes created by nature.
whitish marble; white limestone
Compound of 水 (water) and 石 (stone), reflecting the traditional practice of displaying stones in water or appreciating their resemblance to water-worn forms. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.