Page 63 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q3

By Min Hsuan Lo, Taiwan, and José L. Rodríguez Macias, Puerto Rico
Photos courtesy Min Hsuan Lo

revious articles have addressed Taroko National Park, Jade Mountain and
Hehuan Mountain as fountains of inspiration to Taiwanese bonsai artists.
Originally established in December 12, 1937 and known as Tsugitaka-Taroko
National Park, the park was reestablished as one of Formosa’s nine national
Pparks on November 28, 1986, along with Yushan National Park (1985) and
as part of the National Park Law of the ROC.
Taiwanese high mountain junipers (Juniperus squamata) are the result of a
permanent battle between life and death. Perhaps, judging by their crooked forms,
they encompass the complementary and interdependent nature of opposites. As
they struggle to grow, wind, snow, avalanches, rain, temperature and other natural
phenomena exert force and shape them. One might say that without these elements,
there would be no Taiwanese high mountain junipers and without the junipers,
holding firmly onto the ground, there would be no Taiwanese alpine environment!
Such is the essence that gives way to inspiration and the subject of this article.
Nature has always played an important role in my bonsai journey. For example,
in the year 2004, I had the privilege of being a guest demonstrator at the California
Facing page, top; In 2004 Master Kuo Sze Ern (Ernie Kuo) took Golden State Bonsai Convention. As part of my leisure activities, Master Kuo
me to see the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) in Sze Ern (Ernie Kuo) took me to see the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus
California, an experience that influenced my understanding of the
High Mountain Style. longaeva). Although not entirely similar, the constant struggle and will of these
Facing page, bottom insets and top of this page; Taroko National pines to survive in subalpine forests present similar forms and environmental
Park, Jade Mountain and Hehuan Mountain are fountains of characteristics which remind me of my Taiwanese high mountain junipers.
inspiration to Taiwanese bonsai artists and the subject of this The colossal bristlecones, particularly those that thrive at high altitudes, have a
article. magnificent, gnarly appearance. As they grow and play against the forces of nature,
their vascular system suffers, exposing the relics of life and death, expressed in
a the dance of living tissue and shari. This essence of nature, these wild forms

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