Hello, this is Ayamegu(@ayakami_meguru).I will write about Bonsai this time.
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Bonsai is the ancient Japanese art of growing small, intricately shaped trees in pots. Meticulous pruning and wiring techniques allow bonsai artists to recreate the grandeur of natural trees in miniature form. Modern bonsai continues ancient practices while also evolving as a living art form.
History and Development of Bonsai
The earliest bonsai ancestors were believed to be straight, undynamic potted trees from China. But Japanese monks and aristocrats refined potted tree growing into an art form during the Heian period (794-1185 CE).
Rules of proportion, space and perspective derived from Japanese arts like painting and sculpting were applied to miniature trees. This synthesis of creative and horticultural disciplines formed the foundations of bonsai.
By the Edo period (1603-1868), bonsai appreciation spread to the merchant class. Tokugawa rulers collected prized specimens, fueling interest in perfecting the art. Regional styles emerged, with Kyoto known for elegance and Tokyo for unconventional creativity.
Bonsai declined following Japan’s modernization, but made a comeback in the early 1900s. Numerous schools formed, codifying techniques and styles while promoting bonsai to the international community.
Bonsai draws from both cultivation science and artistic principles. Practitioners use specialized tools and integrate knowledge of botany, health, and aesthetics. Ongoing care ensures the trees survive and thrive for years or decades.
Main Styles and Species of Bonsai
There are two primary aesthetics in bonsai:
Classical – Evoking age and monumentality, with visible roots and exaggerated proportions.
Modern – More abstract, often asymmetric with fewer visible roots.
Within these, common styles include:
Formal Upright – Straight, upright, tapering trunk.
Informal Upright – Curving, angled trunk.
Slanting – Trunk at an angle, seemingly pushed by wind.
Cascade – Trunk and branches bending downward.
Literati – Elegant trunk with sparse branches, evoking calligraphy strokes.
Broom – Densely twigged foliage canopy over a short trunk.
Species often used include:
- Pine – Strong symbolism, valued for rugged bark and needles. Responds well to wiring.
- Maple – Gracefully branch and have intricate leaf shapes. Require care.
- Juniper – Hardy with shapely growth. Good for beginners.
- Azalea – Profuse flowers in spring. Need greenhouse conditions.
- Cedar – Tough with good evergreen foliage. Slow growing.
- Cypress – Suit formal upright style well. Direct sunlight.
- Zelkova – Twiggy, gnarled shapes. Interesting bark.
Bonsai Culture and Events
Bonsai plays an important cultural role in Japan and internationally through:
- Public exhibitions like annual Tokyo Grand Bonsai Exhibition which showcase masterpieces.
- Courses at bonsai clubs and gardens that teach new enthusiasts traditional skills.
- Bonsai design contests where innovative artists compete.
- Prominent placement of bonsai in Japanese gardens, temples, museums, and other public spaces.
- Depiction of bonsai in Japanese cultural arts like painting, woodblock prints, and netsuke figurines.
- International bonsai conventions and competitions held in Japan that bring together artists globally.
- Commercial bonsai nurseries that export plants and tools worldwide, spreading awareness.
While historically a pastime for the elite, bonsai now allows people of all backgrounds to engage with this living art that balances human creativity with natural wonder.
Bonsai reflects shared human impulses across cultures to shape nature into aesthetically pleasing forms full of symbolism. It will likely continue spreading as an art form while retaining its core Japanese identity.
Passing along bonsai skills across generations also ensures this traditional art endures into the future, even as styles and techniques evolve over time.
References: Bonsai Empire – https://www.bonsaiempire.com Japan Travel – https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/bonsai/
