Taihu Rock
Culture: Chinese
Date: 20th century
Dimensions:
height: 8.5 feet (2.59 meters)
width: 6.6 feet (2.01 meters)
depth: 3.3 feet (1.01 meters)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of the Municipal People's Government of Wuxi, China to San Antonio Museum of Art in honor of the Tricentennial Celebration of San Antonio City
Object number: 2018.23
Label Text
Taihu rocks are quarried from and named after the Lake Taihu region in southeast China. Their fantastic shapes and interconnected holes are formed through long and gradual erosion by water. Enjoyed for over a millennium, large Taihu rocks were essential elements in traditional Chinese garden design, while rocks of smaller sizes were collected and treasured as indoor decor in scholars’ studios. Taihu rocks represent a microcosm of the terrestrial world, symbolizing mountains where Daoist immortals might reside, Buddhist monks meditated, and Confucian scholars sought hermit lives. Their unique shapes inspire aesthetic contemplation, providing infinite possibilities to the mind of the observer.
Located on the north side of Lake Taihu, the City of Wuxi has been a sister city of San Antonio since 2012. This Taihu rock was gifted by Wuxi for the enjoyment of the citizens of San Antonio in honor of the friendship of our two communities.
Located on the north side of Lake Taihu, the City of Wuxi has been a sister city of San Antonio since 2012. This Taihu rock was gifted by Wuxi for the enjoyment of the citizens of San Antonio in honor of the friendship of our two communities.
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
