Page 36 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q2

trunks using wire or nylon tread. Once we are done,
the tree is allowed to rest. During the rest period, the
tree will naturally try to heal itself, creating wound
calluses and new wood. A year later or sometimes
longer, depending on the physical health of the tree,
the wounds will be ready to be worked on again and
the process is repeated. This gradual development of
trunk lines, as well a jin and shari development, repli-
cates the rugged and gradual weathering that occurs
in nature. As the wood will have natural contours rep-
resenting each stage of bark elimination, the resulting
dead wood portions mimic the high mountain quality
of natural junipers.

Contrast with Carving Wood (Mu Diaoke)
Wood carving consists of creating dead wood
features by means of carving along the wood grain.
Although it offers immediate results and is a valid
method of creation, the resulting wood is often softer.
Furthermore, the average bonsai enthusiast may not
have the necessary technical skills to perform this
process, thus resulting in the loss of the material. As
the journey in bonsai creation is always the road to
success, gradual development of deadwood features
not only offers a safer approach to jin, shari and stock
development, but also results in durable and natural
looking elements. A combination of both methods is
also possible.

Top right; Cutting-grown Taiwan Juniper bonsai
Top left; Marking the tree trunk with colored chalk for bark removal
and line creation.
Middle left; After removing bark.
Bottom left; Another juniper undergoing the bark removal process.

34 | BCI | April/May/June 2016