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The tensor describes the stresses at a point. The components within the tensor are stresses and cannot be described as points, data items or pieces of information (although the latter could be correct but only in a more informal context such as a teacher's notes to a student in an attempt to simplify the matter). The components of the tensor describe the stresses on the faces of an infinitesimal cube and the tensor is a 'grouping' of these stresses that allows the stress state at the point where this cube is to be described relative to x, y, and z coordinate directions (in this case). Each component of the tensor describes the stress on a particular plane in a particular direction. So, for example, τxy (in the 1st column of the second row of the tensor) is the shear stress in the y direction that is acting on the face of the cube normal to (perpendicular to) to the x axis. In equilibrium it's equal to τyx (in the first row, second column). There are six shear stresses in the tensor but τxy = τyx, τxz = τzx, and τyz = τzy. The remaining 3 stresses in the tensor are normal stresses. The column 1 row 1 , column 2 row 2 and column 3 row 3 quantities are the stresses normal to the three faces - σx, σy and σz.