Basic Introduction to Nanjing Rainflower Pebbles
The Rainflower pebble is a type of natural agate, also known as a literary stone, an ornamental stone, and a lucky stone. It is mainly produced in the Lihexi area of Nanjing City and the Yuetang area of Yizheng City, making it a famous local specialty of Nanjing.
Product Features
Rainflower pebbles are renowned for their crystal-like texture, unique shapes, vibrant colors, unpredictable patterns, mysterious imagery, and the natural beauty of their scenes, establishing their unique status and value among ornamental stones. They are acclaimed as the “Gifted National Treasure” and the “Queen of Stones”!
Historical Folklore
When asked about the origin of Rainflower pebbles, one often hears such stories: During the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, there was a high monk named Yun Guang who set up a platform in Shizigang (today's Rainflower Terrace) in Nanjing to preach the Dharma, which moved heaven itself to rain flowers that transformed into colorful Rainflower pebbles upon landing. The place where he preached became known as Rainflower Terrace. There are also numerous poems and texts scattered throughout historical records that claim Rainflower pebbles are remnants of the stones used by Nüwa to mend the heavens. For example, “Treasure them in clear springs, for sometimes they can mend the sky.” (Kong Shangren, “Song of the Hexi Pebbles”)
“Heaven and matter, matter has its imperfections, so in ancient times, Nüwa smelted stones of five colors to mend the sky's flaws.” (The Liezi, Warring States Period)
Are Rainflower pebbles remnants of these five-colored stones? In fact, these are all imaginings of people regarding beautiful things, not to be taken as evidence. Clearly, the formation of Rainflower pebbles is scientific, and their history predates the era of Yun Guang's preaching. The connection between Yun Guang's preaching and Rainflower pebbles originated from the social background of widespread Buddhism at the time. Today, the scene described in “In the South of the Yangtze River, four hundred and eighty Buddhist temples, how many pavilions and terraces in the misty rain” (Du Mu, “Spring in the South of the Yangtze”) has long been lost to the mists of history. Yet, the myth of Yun Guang's preaching remains a popular tale associated with the appreciation of Rainflower pebbles.
Authenticity Identification
Features of Genuine Pebbles
1. Color and Pattern: Rainflower pebbles are natural fossils, much like amber. One can see various natural shapes and colors within the stone. Commonly seen patterns resemble stripes, with predominant colors being yellow, red, green, and white. If a Rainflower pebble contains a shape resembling a landscape or figure, it would be a priceless treasure of great rarity and value.
2. Shape: Stones do not have regular shapes. Rainflower pebbles generally have irregular oval shapes and vary in thickness. In short, anything natural will be irregular.
3. Hardness: Rainflower pebbles are primarily composed of silica, giving them extremely high hardness.
4. Weight: Stones are relatively heavy, and you can usually feel this when holding one in your hand.
Features of Imitations
1. Glass and Resin Imitations: Glass objects are fragile and tend to have regular shapes (such as spheres) and patterns, lacking natural features. Resin imitations are easier to identify; they are often sold in markets as transparent circular thin sheets with patterns inside and are softer in texture. They are typically packaged in plastic bags.
2. Passing off River Pebbles as Rainflower Pebbles: This type of imitation is commonly found on the market. River pebbles share many characteristics with Rainflower pebbles, but the main difference lies in their color and pattern. River pebbles lack distinctive shapes and generally appear as dark red or black blobs, making them unsuitable for ornamental purposes and more appropriate as construction material.