Page 11 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

The art of bonsai 11

favored landscapes featuring idealized images of created during the Edo literati movement, which
trees. One of the biggest influences for the literati inspired an eponymous genre of bonsai with
artists was the Mustard Seed Garden Manual ancient, thin, tortured trunks and a minimal
(Jieziyuan Huazhuan), first published in 1679, which number of branches. It is the pursuit of the ideal,
showed how to paint the idealized images. The same using as little as possible to convey the inherent
images were then re-created in tree form by literati nature of the subject, the removal of all that is
who were also bonsai enthusiasts. unnecessary to leave only that which is needed.

The Japanese have a unique relationship with natural A new industry
beauty that influences all arts, garden design, By the end of the Edo period there is evidence that
and bonsai. There is a desire for a supernatural a profession had emerged, along with a group of
beauty, a distillation of the essence of what makes collectors from the aristocratic and merchant classes.
a pine tree so beautiful. Nature can be random and Exhibitions were held for connoisseurs, and the first
unattractive—and sometimes a deadly force. In the real instruction book specifically for bonsai was
desire to control, perfect, and idealize nature, the published. The Somoku Kinyou Shu (1829) is a
relationship goes beyond the visual approach and gardening book that features a section on classic pine
into the metaphysical, with roots in Zen Buddhism bonsai and explains the concept of “taboo branches.”
and Shinto, both of which were highly influential It sets forth some basic principles for designing a
in Japan. The impact of Buddhism on the Japanese “perfect” bonsai, as well as describing the difficulty
arts, and in particular Zen, is important when in achieving such perfection.
looking at bonsai: often a “less is more” approach
to design is revealed. The importance of negative This desire for stylization is a common theme
space within the bonsai cannot be overemphasized across many Japanese arts such as Ikebana or the
when looking at Japanese trees—particularly those Tea Ceremony and can be widely misinterpreted as
a set of oppressive rules. In fact, bonsai is one of
the less stylized Japanese art forms due to the lack
of formal schools that dictate style and shape.
Instead of structured schools,
informal groups such as the
Jurakukai in Tokyo established
gatherings where bonsai
professionals and wealthy
enthusiasts could meet and
enjoy bonsai displays.

Japanese maple California juniper English elm