Sacred Boundary Stones by Tosei Shinabe

This autumn we present 30 new ‘za kekkai’ stones by Buddhist Zen monk Tosei Shinabe, in a special two-week exhibition in our Zurich store. Rooted in his daily Zazen meditation at Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple, his practice extends to Awaji Island, said in Japanese mythology to be the birthplace of the nation. Here, in this symbolic location, he selects stones that embody the quiet essence of nature, and ultimately serve as symbol of its simplicity and impermanence. Each one is bound with Seima rope, carefully hand-braided by Tosei from rare Japanese hemp long used in sacred rituals, from Shinto shrines to the yokozuna’s belt in sumo – then filled with prayers for peace and stillness. Historically, kekkai seki (translating to ‘boundary stone’) have been used to subtly mark boundaries in Japanese gardens or at the entrance of holy sites, denoting the border between ordinary and sacred ground. Today, in your home, they can serve as spiritual objets d’art, silent meditation companions or even objects to guard against harmful energy. “You can imbue a stone with any concept you want,” Tosei says. “Some people may wear them as protective talismans or amulets created by monks. It’s their choice.”

During the exhibition, the stones may be purchased exclusively in-store and collected or delivered after the closing date. Any remaining pieces will then be released in our online shop. Tosei will be present on the opening day, Saturday 25 October, offering visitors the rare chance to observe how the stones are created.

See how and where ‘za kekkai’ stones are created, in our short film and article about Tosei Shinabe in our magazine, along with another story on the history of kekkai seki.