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Who hasn’t heard about bonsai trees? Everyone pictures a small tree when they hear the word « bonsai ». But is that all?
I discovered the bonsai art watching the movie The Karate Kid when I was a kid. That’s great! Watching Mr. Miyagi carefully prune and shape the bonsai trees in the movie must have left a lasting impression. If you haven’t watched the movie yet, I strongly recommend it for learning more about those tiny trees.
At that time, I was too young to grow my own bonsai tree, so I enrolled in a karate dojo. But I kept in a corner of my mind the thought that I would someday grow a bonsai.
And here I am 30 years later, a Kyokushin karate student and a bonsai amateur.
What are bonsaï trees? Bonsai are specimens of trees planted in a pot, typically grown outdoors and not indoors.
This is the short definition. But there’s more. Let’s dive into the art of bonsaï.
Pronouncing the word « Bonsaï »
The word « Bonsaï » is pronounced as « bone-sigh », and not « bone-zai ».
Bonsai means growing a tree into a pot. « Bon » stands for the pot and « saï » is the act of growing.
The word ki, tree in Japanese is not mentioned, but it’s understood that a bonsai is a tree grown in a pot.
A bonsai tree is not a species
A bonsai is not a species of tree but rather an art form that involves the cultivation and shaping of miniature trees in containers.
Any type of tree or plant species can potentially be used for bonsai, including conifers, deciduous trees, and tropical plants.
Bonsai enthusiasts carefully select and cultivate trees that have desirable characteristics for bonsai creation, such as small leaves, unique trunk formations, and proportionate branch structure.
Despite not being a specific species itself, bonsai has become a globally recognized and respected form of artistic expression.
A bonsai represents a tree in its original environment
A bonsai is a miniature tree that represents a tree in its original environment. Created through careful cultivation and pruning techniques, a bonsai is designed to mimic the appearance of a full-sized tree found in nature.
The scale and proportions of the tree are carefully considered to create a harmonious balance between the tree and its container.
The branches, leaves, and roots are carefully shaped and pruned to reflect the characteristics of a fully grown tree. Forget about fancy shapes: square, round etc. A bonsaï looks like its full grown brother.
By observing a bonsai, one can gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and resilience of nature as it captures the essence of a tree within a small confined space.
The bonsai is simply guided by man in its growth. The bonsaï ka or bonsai artist can turn any species of tree into a bonsai.
It is his duty to create a harmonius representation of nature, more than a simple model.
A bonsai gives emotions
Whoever looks at a bonsai must feel. Feel what? The nature: the sun, the wind, the cold, the snow. A bonsai expresses the beauty of nature by evoking an entire landscape.
This is the purpose of a bonsai artist: to provoke emotions. In short, growing a bonsai or bonsai cultivation is a form of art.
A bonsai artist’s purpose is indeed much more than simply creating a visually appealing tree. Their primary goal is to convey and evoke emotions through their cultivation and presentation of bonsai.
Bonsai as an art form aims to capture the essence of nature and to recreate it in a miniature form that evokes a profound sense of beauty, tranquility, and contemplation.
The art of bonsai involves not only the physical aspects of shaping and pruning the tree but also requires a deep understanding and connection to nature.
Bonsai artists often spend years or even decades carefully nurturing their trees, observing their growth patterns, and developing a relationship with them. Through this intimate connection, they aim to express and replicate the grace, strength, and harmony found in nature.
The act of caring for a bonsai tree is an ongoing process that demands patience, attention to detail, and a profound appreciation for nature’s perfection. Each branch, leaf, and contour of the tree holds significance and contributes to the artistic expression.
By meticulously shaping and training the tree, a bonsai artist can evoke a range of emotions such as serenity, nostalgia, awe, or even challenge established notions of what constitutes beauty.
History of bonsai trees
The history of bonsai trees can be traced back over a thousand years to China, where it was called « penzai. » The ancient Chinese art form, known as « penzai » or « penjing, » served as the precursor to bonsai.
The practice of penzai involved cultivating small potted plants, including trees, to create scaled-down landscapes or natural scenes.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), penzai reached its peak popularity in China. It was during this time that the art form began to evolve, with attention given not only to the cultivation of the plants but also to their artistic presentation. Chinese scholars and artists dedicated themselves to perfecting the techniques of pruning, wiring, and shaping trees into intricate forms.
The influence of penzai eventually spread to Japan, reaching its shores around the 6th century. The Japanese took the art form and adapted it to suit their own cultural sensibilities, ultimately giving rise to what we now know as bonsai.
In Japan, bonsai evolved into a refined art form closely associated with Zen Buddhism. Buddhist monks used bonsai to create tranquil and contemplative gardens within temple grounds. Bonsai trees were seen as a reflection of nature’s harmony and as a way to connect with the divine. Japanese artists refined the techniques of penzai, focusing on replicating the aged appearance of full-sized trees in their miniature versions.
Bonsai gained popularity among the ruling elite in Japan during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), becoming a symbol of status and wealth. With time, the art form started to spread among the general population as well.
Over the centuries, bonsai has continued to evolve and gain recognition as a revered horticultural and artistic practice.
In the 19th century, bonsai became a popular hobby among the Japanese aristocracy, and it eventually spread to the rest of the world.
As Japan began opening up to the world during the Meiji era (1868-1912), bonsai caught the attention of Western visitors. These visitors, fascinated by the unique art form, brought bonsai back to their own countries, introducing it to a wider audience.
Bonsai trees arrived in Europe in 1978, during the world expo in Paris. Western enthusiasts started experimenting with bonsai cultivation and created their own styles and interpretations of the art.
In the late 20th century, bonsai gained recognition as a true art form and not merely a hobby. It started making appearances in international exhibitions and competitions, further fueling its popularity.
Bonsai schools and associations were established around the world, promoting the education and practice of bonsai to a global audience.
Classic shapes of bonsai trees
Traditional forms of bonsai meet precise criteria and are all inspired by natural and spontaneous forms, more or less widespread in nature.
Here are 12 classic shapes of bonsai trees:
- Formal Upright Bonsai (Chokkan): These trees have an upright and straight trunk with branches that are thicker and longer as they get closer to the ground and shorter and smaller at the top.
- Informal Upright Bonsai (Moyogi): Similar to the formal upright style, these trees have an upright trunk but with noticeable curves, sometimes in the shape of an « S ».
- Slanting Bonsai (Shakan): This style is mostly a formal upright tree but with a small lean. The trunk usually grows in one direction with an angle between 60 to 80 degrees to the ground.
- Broom Bonsai (Hokidachi): Broom trees have a straight trunk that doesn’t finish at the top of the tree but around the middle. After that, branches, all about the same size, form a ball-shaped crown.
- Cascade Bonsai (Kengai): In this style, the trunk of the tree cascades down below the base of the pot, creating a waterfall-like effect.
- Semi-Cascade Bonsai (Han-Kengai): Similar to the cascade style, but the trunk only partially cascades below the base of the pot.
- Group Planting Bonsai or Forest Bonsai (Yose-ue): This style features multiple trees planted together, creating the illusion of a miniature forest.
- Windswept Bonsai (Fukinagashi): The branches and foliage of these trees are shaped as if they have been shaped by strong winds, leaning in one direction.
- Multi-Trunk Bonsai or Raft Bonsai (Ikadabuki): This style features multiple trunks that have fused together, creating a unique and interesting shape.
- Literati Bonsai (Bunjin-gi): These trees have a tall, slender trunk with branches that twist and turn in various directions, creating an elegant and artistic appearance.
- Bonsai on Rock (Seki-joju): This style involves planting a tree on a rock, with the roots of the tree clinging to the rock for support.
- Bonsai on a Slab (Ishisuki): Similar to the bonsai on rock style, but the tree is planted on a flat slab of stone instead of a vertical rock.