To properly appreciate Ying stones, one must observe ten key characteristics; those that possess all ten are truly exceptional specimens. These ten characteristics can be encapsulated in ten characters-building upon the five attributes summarized by our predecessors ("lean," "transparent," "perforated," "wrinkled," and "grotesque"), they incorporate five additional elements: "momentum," "form," "scenery," "substance," and "texture."
*Zhou* (Wrinkled): Refers to the textural beauty of the Ying Stone-its surface features deep, distinct folds that are orderly and harmonious, never chaotic.
*Shou* (Lean): Refers to the sculptural beauty of the Ying Stone-its slender, towering form that highlights a spirit of unyielding integrity.
*Lou* (Leaky): Demands a deeper level of textural beauty in the Ying Stone-specifically, the presence of distinct traces of flowing water and dripping erosion upon its surface.
*Tou* (Translucent): Imposes a higher standard of sculptural beauty upon the Ying Stone-requiring the entire stone body to be riddled with interconnected cavities and perforations, creating an intricate, ethereal, and exquisitely open structure.
The Grotesque: When ugliness reaches its absolute extreme, it transcends into beauty. This embodies the aesthetic philosophy of finding beauty in the grotesque-a fondness for stones that are bizarre and ugly.
Scenery: Encompassing natural landscapes, landforms, and objects; the scenes are vivid, engaging, and picturesque-truly poetic and painterly.
Objects: Stones resembling human figures or animals-vivid in form and strikingly lifelike.
Texture: Crisp in texture, resonant when struck, and featuring distinct grain patterns-it is a stone of superior quality.
