Odds are that all of you know of the “dwarf” trees that often dress minimalist- and sometimes non-minimalist- entryway tables. But did you know that bonsai is directly interpreted (in Japanese, of course) as tray-growing tree?
The Inception of Bonsai
The most basic information about the history of bonsai can be found in the article “Bonsai Tree Care” by Bonsai Tree Gardener. However, Bonsai Empire‘s “What is Bonsai” details the rich history of bonsai, beginning with its origins in the Bronze Age of China over 2000 years ago. During this period, the dominant religious ideology, the Five Agents Theory, focused on the magical powers of natural phenomena. It was believed that the power which resided in the natural world could be harnessed in miniatures of a natural object, such as a landscape, and the lines of such beliefs eventually resulted in the growth of trees in pottery known as pan, pen, or pun.
The religious affiliations of these tray-growing trees emerged in Japan approximately eight hundred years after their inception in China and were quickly adopted as art by Zen Buddhists within the archipelago. Quickly, though, the mode of artistic growth was undertaken by all levels of Japanese culture. In 1800, a group of Chinese art scholars renamed the art bonsai to separate the use of Chinese pen pottery from the trees grown in commonly-used Japanese Hachi bowls. From this point onward, bonsai represented a major art form within Japan; bonsai as maintained its artistic standing within Japanese culture, but has waned in popularity with younger generations.
Types of Bonsai
An absolute myriad of bonsai types exist; almost any species of tree can be trained in the bonsai style. Bonsai can be made of coniferous, deciduous, flowering, and tropical tree, alike to produce successful results. One particular type of bonsai, Shohin, renders works less than a foot in height; these pieces subsequently require much pruning and shaping. (The Bonsai Tree Gardener further details Shohin on their site, and I will direct you there for specifics on specialty care!)
Although deciduous bonsai are extremely beautiful, they require a bit more TLC than do their coniferous or evergreen counterparts given that they lose their foliage annually. Flowering bonsai and tropical bonsai also require differing amounts of care due to their variant growth patterns and disparate maintenance requirements; these extra bits of work are entirely paid off by the beautiful displays they produce, as can be seen below.
Bonsai Boy provides a wealth of Bonsai care information in the article titled “Indoor Bonsai Care,” but, even as he says, the art of bonsai requires definite amounts of time and care. Next week, I will share some general care tips and uncover some beyond helpful resources which offer instruction on the care and growth of bonsai. Thank you for reading; may your garden rest well as this autumn progresses!
What a beautifully detailed introduction to the art of bonsai! I never realized the deep historical roots and cultural significance behind it. As someone who’s fascinated by mindfulness and practices that require patience, bonsai feels like the perfect hobby to explore. It’s amazing how bonsai trees can create a sense of calm and presence, much like mindfulness practices. For anyone looking to complement their bonsai experience with relaxing soundscapes, I’d recommend checking out https://sensityapp.com/. It’s an app with a variety of calming sounds and tools designed to enhance focus and relaxation, which pairs wonderfully with the meditative aspect of bonsai. Thanks for the inspiration!