History Of Bonsai In Japan

The earliest illustration of a penjing is found in the qianling mausoleum murals at the tang dynasty.

History of bonsai in japan. In the edo period cultivation of bonsai was popular as a sideline of the samurai and bonsai and gardening boomed. The earliest mention of tree cultivation in japan occurred about the year 970 and the earliest visual depiction of bonsai was in a scroll dating from the 12th or 13th century. Bonsai first appeared in japan during the 12th century. The chinese have always loved flowers and plants and the country is naturally endowed with a rich diversity of flora.

Bonsai s western origin begins in the 17 th century one of the few lucky europeans allowed to enter and settle in japan was german physician engelbert kaempfer after spending a significant amount of time in japan he wrote a book called the history of japan it was one of the most respected works on japan for many years after it was written. In itami hyōgo near osaka a group of. Their origins and sources can be traced back some 1300 years to a painting on the wall of the inner chamber of the tomb built for prince li xian. Bonsai are a japanese cultural tradition.

Over thousand years history of bonsai it began when the bonkei miniature landscaping practiced in china in the tang dynasty was brought to japan in the heian period. Around the 14th century the term for dwarf potted trees was the bowl s tree 鉢の木 hachi no ki. Originally only the elite of the society practiced pun tsai with native collected specimens and the trees where spread throughout china as luxurious gifts. During the tokugawa shogunate 1603 1868 collecting a yamadori or natural dwarf tree from the mountains and containerizing it became part of the samurai tradition.

Although the word bon sai is japanese the art it describes originated in the chinese empire. The chinese also had a passion for gardens. By the year 700 ad the chinese had started the art of pun sai using special techniques to grow dwarf trees in containers.