Suiseki

Suiseki (水石^?) are small naturally occurring or shaped rocks which are traditionally appreciated. They are similar to Chinese scholar's rocks.^[1]

Chinese scholar's rocks influenced the development of suiseki in Japan.^[2] The history of suiseki in Japan begins during the reign of Empress Suiko. The small objects were brought to Japan as gifts from the Chinese Imperial court.^[3]
  
The evaluation of suiseki recognizes subtlety of color, shape, markings and surface. According to Hideo Marushima (丸島秀夫 Marushima Hideo^?, 1934- ) in The History of Suiseki in Japan (日本愛石史 Nihon aisekishi^?),

It is not a silly thing at all to enjoy a stone in a tray. I see the whole world in a tiny stone. Some objects in this world are huge, and others are small, and they come in all shapes, but they are not that different when you look at their essence.^[4]

Popular types of suiseki suggest a mountain, a waterfall, an island, a thatched hut or an animal.^[1]