A small natural wood stand lovingly polished accentuating the natural texture of the wood underground as it grows through and is shaped by the mass and weight of earth, nearly swallowing a stone in the process. It is 17 x 11.5 x 6.5 cm (7 z 4-1/2 x 2-1/2 inches) and in excellent condition, perfect for a koro incense burner. Unlike polished wooden sculpture, Ishigami rootwood is valued precisely because it is untouched—or only minimally shaped—by human hands. It aligns with the Zen and literati belief that true beauty lies not in mastery over nature, but in recognition of its inherent form. In this way, it parallels scholar stones (suiseki / gongshi): objects not created, but discovered.
