Chinese scholar's rocks

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/chinese-scholars-rocks

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the key aesthetic criteria?Shape (xing), texture (fu), color (se), sound (sheng), and patterns/eyes (wen)
2. What is the historical peak of cultivation?Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), deeply integrated into literati culture and garden design
3. Why do people pick certain rocks?People choose rocks with special shapes, textures, colors, sounds, and patterns that feel alive and natural.
4. When did people start collecting these rocks?People began picking special rocks during the Tang Dynasty and liked them a lot in the Song Dynasty.

Ling Shi (靈石): The Chinese term for scholar's rocks, translating to 'spirit stone' or 'numinous stone'.
Literati Culture: The intellectual and artistic traditions of educated scholars in imperial China, emphasizing refinement and contemplation.
Wu Wei (無為): A core Taoist principle signifying effortless action, spontaneity, and living in accordance with the natural order.
Aesthetic Principles: The fundamental qualities and standards used to judge the beauty and artistic merit of an object.