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Main » 2013 » October » 31 » The Roots Of Bonsai In Asia by Andrew Parajumpers Kozlowski
11:54 AM The Roots Of Bonsai In Asia by Andrew Parajumpers Kozlowski |
The Roots Of Bonsai In Asia by Andrew Kozlowski
The Chinese began creating
miniature landscapes in containers more than one thousand years ago Parajumpers. This art, known as
�penjing,� or �pun-sai,� translates to scenery in a pot. The artists used stones
and bits of plants such as lichen and moss to make tiny garden landscapes that
portrayed scenes in nature. The smaller the materials used and the more detailed
the landscapes, the more powerful they were thought to be. The practice of
growing a single tree in a pot, �bonsai,� arose from this practice parajumpers coats. To the ancient Chinese,
these trees� gnarled trunks and roots resembled dragons and mountains and
contributed to myths about the mountain kingdoms of spirit beings.
The
artistic creations of bonsai were thought to represent harmony between heaven
and earth. To some of the ancient Taoist spiritual seekers, the trees were the
highest expression of nature�s art. Bonsai was also a way to bring nature inside
their temples, and peace and tranquility to the gardener. As Buddhism began to
spread throughout Asia, many Chinese Taoist groups became Chan Buddhists, and
they continued to practice the art of bonsai.
During the 12th century,
bonsai was introduced to Japan with the spread of Zen Buddhism. The initial
bonsai artists in Japan were monks who continued to refine the art of creating
individual trees or landscapes in shallow bowls. The more curved and deformed a
tree looked, the more it was thought to possess spiritual powers. Over time,
bonsai was introduced to the Japanese aristocracy and became an accepted
practice among the Japanese elite. Bonsai were brought indoors and displayed on
special shelves during certain times of the year.
In addition to growing
trees, the Japanese began to create art with naturally shaped stones, focusing
on each stone�s texture, color, and shape. This form of Japanese Zen art was
called �suiseki.� Over time, both bonsai and suiseki became less associated with
monasteries and the upper classes and became part of everyday Japanese culture.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the practice of training trees by trimming,
pruning, and shaping them with wire became part of the art of
bonsai.
During the 19th century, travelers from around the world came to
Japan and then spread the word about tiny trees in ceramic containers that
mimicked full-sized trees in nature. In 1900, bonsai trees were placed on
display at the Paris World Exhibition, and bonsai were soon exhibited in London
and Vienna. Bonsai specialty magazines were founded in Japan, and organizations
for bonsai enthusiasts were created. The basic bonsai styles were developed, and
nurseries devoted to the growth and training of bonsai trees were established.
Bonsai trees in Japan today are still highly regarded across all classes
as cultural symbols, and a flowering bonsai tree on its �tokonoma,� or special
niche, is always on display during the Japanese New Year�s celebration.
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