Bonsai Tree In Japanese Culture
Bonsai is a passion of mine that has taken up countless hrs of my time over the las.
Bonsai tree in japanese culture. The word japanese word bonsai translates into planted in a pot. As with any ancient art a strong use of symbolism accompanies these trees whether the grower is aware of it or not. Originally only the elite of the society practiced pun tsai with native collected specimens and the trees where spread throughout china as luxurious gifts. By the year 700 ad the chinese had started the art of pun sai using special techniques to grow dwarf trees in containers.
What does bonsai trees symbolize. No wonder the level of japanese bonsai trees is considered by most to be unrivaled. The japanese loanword bonsai has become an umbrella term in english attached to many. The japanese bonsai culture is already centuries old and has its original roots in china.
The miniature styled shaped trees. Thus far there is little difference between the japanese style bonsai and china s version of bonsai the planted tree penjing. History and origin of bonsai. Is anyone into bonsai at all.
In japan a national treasure must show either outstanding workmanship or a high value for world cultural history or an exceptional value for scholarship. In garden centers bonsai trees are just as much a standard product as classic pansies. In both china and japan aficionados appreciate the beauty of the tree s form its fascinating aspects the vitality and age of the tree that create these qualities and the technique of the grower that rivals this. Hey guys since we clearly like at least one japanese cars i figured some of us would be interested in other forms of japanese culture as well.
The trunk is what gives the tree its stature poor trunks make poor bonsai. Bonsai is a japanese art form which utilizes cultivation techniques to produce in containers small trees that mimic the shape and scale of full size trees. The most popular tree species in japan are pines junipers and maples. Although the word bon sai is japanese the art it describes originated in the chinese empire.
Japan is home to hundreds of bonsai nurseries that have been family businesses for centuries. The japanese tradition dates back over a thousand years. In japan one of the oldest and most famous bonsai trees is the 500 year old sandai shogun no matsu which has been designated as a national treasure. It generally refers to any aged miniature tree but bonsai is a true art form that is thousands of years old.
A bonsai is the tree and the pot. In this top 10 we list the most beautiful and famous japanese bonsai trees. In fact there is a particular bonsai tree which has become a part of the tokyo imperial palace collection a bonsai that is over 500 years old and has been passed on from one emperor to another for more than 300 years. The far eastern gardener s art of extremely disciplined small held tree cultures in pots has become very common in recent years but also in the west.
But moreover bonsai is seen as a natural treasure and this is the second reason why bonsai is important to japanese culture.