cloudycat
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Japanese garden rock symbol

Hello. I rencently visited an authentic Japanese garden in Seattle. On the ground by the tea gathering house, a rock was placed alone with a black string tied around it. What does this symbolic rock gesture mean? Thanks!

cynthia_h
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Ah. This is the request. I will move this request to the "Japanese Gardening" forum so that gardeners with more expertise have a better chance of seeing it.

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

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IndorBonsai
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Location: Seattle area WA

If I remember right tied stones are placed in areas like paths or end of walkways, it is a subtle way of saying please don't go any further, or this area is off limits. I forget what the black string means exactly but something to do with a special stone.

The Helpful Gardener
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Correct, IB! The symbology of the the rock when it is removed and hung by the path is to announce the path being open, as it signifies suspension of time, a recurrent theme in Japanese gardens and art.

HG

yama
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Location: Salem, MA

Hi all
It is called SEKIMORI ISHI. Seki means "check pont" of between regions. MORI emans gurd in Japanese ( has other meaning too) Ishi means stone. Small stone about 3 inch or so , tied with Shuronawa / palm twine teid two place . one is on the stone , two to 3 inch long twine straight up and tied to sear to pick stone. those knots are called Otoko mushubi or tsuno musubi. Musubi mean knot in Japanese, Otoko= means man, tsuno mean horn.
Instead of saying Don't go or pass this point, a gentle way to asking "not pass this point " some private home, tea house place Sekimori shi time to time.
yama

The Helpful Gardener
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Domo Arigato, Yama-san...

HG



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