Rocks have long been admired in China as an essential feature in gardens. Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Chinese Scholars' Rocks were essential to Chinese material culture and aesthetic connoisseurship. Most of the Scholars' Rocks were wholly made by the forces of nature, though some are refined by craftsmen. The surfaces are drilled, ground down, and then polished to enhance their beauty.
The Scholars' Rocks are separated from their original natural environment and placed on monumental pedestals. To some extent, the rocks have become artificial objects and spiritual objects other than fundamental nature. Li Jing treats the Scholars' Rocks as a cultural symbol and uses crystal glass, stainless steel, and rhinestones to fabricate an icon with a solid industrial and futuristic character. Artist hopes his work represents and illuminates the essential difference between traditional aesthetics and contemporary society.