Cut

From BonsaiWIKI

Stones are cut for various reasons:

Some stones would be simply too large to use as viewing stones. Other stones are cut to make the construction of a dai of suitable proportions easier.

The issue of whether to cut a stone and whether a cut stone is in fact a suiseki or simply a pretty stone (biseki) is a topic of much contention.

In the end, whether the stone is cut or uncut, you still have a stone sitting in a wooden base. The only difference is that you can get the base on a cut stone thinner than on a base that you have to carve for an irregular bottomed stone.

By the rule of thirds, this is easier to achieve with a cut stone.