Sekimori Ishi - White Nachi Stone

This Sekimori Ishi is made with a rare white variation of nachi river stone from Mie prefecture — the same prized stone traditionally used for Go stones and inkstones. The stone acquires its smoothness on its journey downriver, but it has become rare and precious due to a dam that prevents the stone from coming down to the shore line. There is only one person left to collect this particular type of stone, now. The rope is made and tied in Shiga by a local weaver, transforming the piece from a humble stone into a subtle signal of boundaries. Sekimori boundary stones are traditionally used in Japanese tea gardens to politely, nonverbally indicate where people are not to pass. This non-confrontational method controls movement in space. Use the stones in their intended purpose or as decor objects to serve as a reminder that honoring boundaries can still be a gentle practice. Each stone is shaped by the river and time, and as such they have natural variations in size and shape.