The Bonsai in Japanese Culture

Japanese Bonsai tree

The Japanese word, Bonsai, is translated "tray planting." The horticultural art of raising a Bonsai tree has great significance in Japanese culture with regard to man and his relationship to nature. The Bonsai tree is not a miniature or dwarf tree but a carefully trained and sculpted ordinary tree. A healthy bonsai tree can live for over one hundred years.

Origin

The Bonsai originated in China more than a thousand years ago. Pun-sai was its original name, and it was the practice of growing individual trees in small pots. The bent and twisted trunks often resembled birds, dragons and other animals. Chinese Bonsai was developed by the artisan's imagination. The similarity to snakes and dragons was more important to the artists than was the tree.

Origin

The art of Bonsai shaping

The Japanese adopted the art of Bonsai from China during the 12th century. The art of creating the Bonsai tree was advanced by Buddhist monks while living in monasteries. Eventually, Bonsai tree art became a hobby of the aristocracy as well, and was a symbol of wealth.

Historical Use

By the 14th century, the art of Bonsai was brought into the homes of the elite and powerful in Japanese culture. The miniature trees were displayed on indoor shelves by the upper class and Bonsai was seen as a precise art form. The Japanese nobility viewed the Bonsai as peace among man, nature, and the spirit.

Significance

During the 17th century, the Bonsai reached its highest level of popularity in Japanese culture. The art of shaping and viewing the Bonsai tree was regarded as the ultimate method to understand nature and unite the spirit with the natural world. Shaping the Bonsai was refined at this time to pruning off all the unnecessary parts of the tree, thus bringing it back to its essential elements. The Bonsai became a symbol of Japanese philosophy and refinement.

The Japanese common man became interested in the art of Bonsai by the 18th century. At this time, rocks and plants were added to the pot to accent the bonsai tree.

Current Importance

The art of Bonsai changed as it spread throughout the world.

The Bonsai tree continues to be looked upon by the Japanese culture as a symbol of its philosophies of the harmony of man, nature and the spirit. Every New Year in Japan, families display a flowering plum or apricot Bonsai tree, decorated with ornaments. The Bonsai tree, once only for the elite, is now enjoyed by all people of the Japanese culture.

Worldwide Interest

Japanese philosophy of harmony with nature.

During the 19th century, Japanese culture generally was introduced to the rest of the world. Descriptions of Bonsai trees and Japanese gardens were spread by travelers to other cultures. Soon, Bonsai trees were displayed in Vienna, Paris and London. Bonsai trees changed as more and more people became involved in their creation, using wires, skewers, and modern growing methods.

References

• The Bonsai Site: "A Detailed Guide to Bonsai"
• Japan Zone: "Bonsai"
• Fuku Bonsai: "Traditional Japanese Bonsai Portal"

Resources

• The Bonsai Gardener: "How to Grow and Care for Bonsai Trees"