The magic of nature's uncanny craftsmanship has created vivid and lifelike zodiac stones, which represent a uniquely distinctive form of existence for the twelve zodiac animals and an alternative manifestation of their life essence. Through the artistic form of zodiac stones as concrete images, we can profoundly experience the vastness and essence of zodiac culture.
In nature, there exist many naturally formed zodiac stones. These stones, which have not been artificially processed, originally existed mostly in pristine natural environments. Due to the unique properties of certain stone materials, prolonged weathering by nature, along with the scouring and transportation by water currents, gradually makes them take on strange and irregular shapes over time. With social development and progress, as well as the gradual improvement of people's artistic appreciation, these oddly shaped stones are moved to parks or other locations, or even developed into tourist attractions on site, for public viewing and enjoyment. In this way, zodiac stones have entered people's sight.
Although these zodiac stones are not strictly considered form art — that is, the artistic achievements of human craftsmanship — they were nonetheless "created" through the boundless wisdom inspired by zodiac culture. They represent the uncanny workmanship of nature, a great artistic discovery by the working people, and an indispensable highlight within the culture of the Chinese zodiac.
Wu Mountain Twelve Zodiac Stones
Wu Mountain is located on the northern bank of the Qiantang River and to the southeast of West Lake. Locals in Hangzhou commonly refer to it as "Chenghuang Mountain" (City God Mountain). The mountain features stone landscapes, among which twelve stones of various shapes stand out, each appearing different from various distances and angles, collectively known as the "Twelve Peaks of Wu Mountain." According to legend, during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1723-1735), Li Wei, the Governor-General of Zhejiang, built a pavilion beside these stones and inscribed it with the name "Wuxia Fengqing" (Green Peaks of Wuxia Gorge). However, the local populace did not accept this name. They believed the stones resembled the twelve zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, thus calling them the "Twelve Zodiac Stones." According to the local gazetteer: "There are twelve exquisite stones, rising from the flat ground, delicate and slender, standing as if mountains in a row. They are named according to their shapes: Brush Holder, Incense Burner, Chessboard, Elephant Trunk, Jade Bamboo Shoot, Turtle Rest, Coiled Dragon, Sword Spring, Reclining Ox, Dancing Crane, Singing Phoenix, and Crouching Tiger."
Today, visitors enjoy guessing which animal each of the zodiac stones represents while touring the area. As a result, a folk rhyme about the "Twelve Zodiac Stones" has emerged near Wushan: "The Rabbit hops ahead, the Golden Rooster crows while the Goat lowers its head. The Dragon looks back as the Horse grazes, the Tiger climbs the mountain with the Monkey close behind. The Snake coils around the Monkey and looks back, the Water Ox sleeps on the yellow mud slope. The Dog gnaws on bones while the Rat scurries around, and the Lazy Pig shows only its head shaped like the character for longevity." These twelve zodiac stones, identified and named by the people, not only inspire endless imagination and add brilliance to the landscape but also reflect how deeply the culture of the Chinese zodiac has permeated people's lives. They represent an artistic creation that unconsciously applies knowledge of the zodiac.
The Zodiac Stones in the Lion Grove Garden
One of the four great classical gardens of Suzhou, the Lion Grove Garden, stands out for its abundant and artistically shaped Taihu stones, among which the legend of the zodiac stones is also passed down.
The Lion Grove Garden was originally the back garden of a monastery, named for its rockeries that resemble lions. Within the garden, layered peaks rise in verdant splendor, with scenic spots bearing poetic names such as "Hui Han" (Embracing Sunlight), "Tu Yue" (Spitting Moon), "Xuan Yu" (Mysterious Jade), and "Ang Xiao" (Soaring to the Sky), which enhance the beauty of the stone landscapes, creating a delightful interplay between exquisite scenery and elegant names. Due to the bizarre and varied shapes of the rocks, visitors have wandered among the forest of peaks for centuries, gradually forming a tradition of searching for the twelve zodiac animals. Among these, there is the Golden Rooster Stone, which seems to crow toward the sky, the Heavenly Rat Stone, which appears to crawl along the ground, and the Flying Dragon Stone, which seems to hover in mid-air.
Those stones are naturally formed, untouched by the chisel of skilled craftsmen, yet human perception is more direct and ingenious than any carved sculpture. The ability to conjure images of zodiac animals such as the Dragon (Chen), Snake (Si), Horse (Wu), and Goat (Wei) from lifeless rock owes its wonder not only to nature's uncanny craftsmanship but also to the cleverness of the viewer's perspective. This reveals how zodiac culture inspires human aesthetic sensibilities and leaves a profound imprint on the human psyche.
Further Reading
The Twelve Zodiac Animal Stones in the Summer Palace
In the Summer Palace, the Hall of Dispelling Clouds (Paiyun Dian) was originally built as the Great Temple of Gratitude and Longevity (Da Bao'en Yanshou Si) by Emperor Qianlong for his mother's 60th birthday. It was later rebuilt by Empress Dowager Cixi and renamed the Hall of Dispelling Clouds. The name "Dispelling Clouds" comes from Guo Pu's poem, "Immortals emerge from the clouds, revealing golden and silver terraces." Empress Dowager Cixi likened herself to an immortal and used the hall as a venue to receive birthday congratulations. On either side of the Dispelling Clouds Gate, there are twelve ceremonial rocks that closely resemble the twelve zodiac animals, known as the "Twelve Zodiac Stones." Legend has it that on the day of Empress Dowager Cixi's birthday celebration, Emperor Guangxu had to kneel first, followed by civil and military officials according to their ranks. Those below the fourth rank had to kneel in the Dispelling Clouds Gate square. These twelve stones symbolized that the entire nation was paying homage to Empress Dowager Cixi, because no one could escape their zodiac sign. This was merely a means by which feudal rulers used the zodiac to enforce autocratic control over the people.