Bonsai

The origins of bonsai are thought to lie in the Chinese tradition of miniaturized gardens. Tang dynasty wall paintings in the tomb of Prince Li Xian (653–684) are the earliest extant evidence of miniaturized gardens. These images show a 1300-year-old tradition of appreciating grasses and trees planted in ceramic containers. The underlying impetus behind the creation of these miniaturized gardens was the traditional belief that Daoist immortals resided in mountains. These gardens were made to resemble Mt. Penglai, a mythical mountain where immortals were thought to dwell. They were brought to Japan by Chinese Sui and Tang dynasty envoys as part of a wave of advanced Chinese culture that entered Japan during the early Heian Period. Later, Japanese scenery and aesthetic sensibilities were incorporated into the cultivation of these gardens, and they eventually developed into a distinctive form of Japanese cultural expression.

In the Edo period (1615–1868), competition over who could present the rarest plants to garden-enthusiast shoguns spurred a gardening boom among daimyo, shogunal retainers, lower-ranking vassals and warriors. During the late Edo period, it became popular for commoners who did not have gardens to cultivate potted plants; gardening thus became an activity that crossed social borders and could be enjoyed by anyone from the shogun to commoners.

In a bonsai tree, firmly attached roots express vitality, making the tree appear as if it grabbing the soil. A well-distributed balance among eight points provides a sense of stability to the tree. The section of the trunk extending from the top of the roots to the first branch of the tree is called the tachiagari. From here, the tree spreads upward and outward, exerting power as if it were a large tree. The type of bark on the tree differs between species; one highly valued feature of pine bonsai is bark that is appears layered and fissured with age.

Kokejun refers to the tapering of the trunk as it extends upward. A tree with good kokejun appears as if it is a large tree viewed from a far distance. As the eye travels slowly upward from the base to the tips of the branches, a moment arrives when the tree is experienced as a huge, colossal presence.

This bonsai from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is 1.6 meters tall and over 1.8 meters wide, and holds a place of pride as the largest tree in the museum’s collection. The protruding root base firmly grasps the soil, the massive trunk writhes upward, and the massive canopy of lush needles spreads over the whole; all of these elements combine to convey the robust life force of this tree.