The Art of Japanese Bonsai

The Japanese refined and developed Bonsaifine specimens have been pruned for more than 100
techniques and evolved the art form it is today. Foryears.Requiring many years of devoted attention and
the Japanese, bonsai represents a fusion of strongcare to produce, the bonsai extends beauty and
ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of theexpresses the significance of life. The care involved in
harmony between man, the soul and nature.creating and shaping a bonsai is considered a form of
The major aspects of Japanese bonsai, has notmeditation in and of itself.Over time, bonsai began to
changed significantly over time.Bonsai initially originatedtake on different styles, each which varied
in Egypt thousands of years ago and moved toimmensely from one another. Today, hardy as well as
China. From China bonsai moved to Japan. Where thetropical indoor bonsai are trained in classic styles,
Japanese perfected the art of bonsai.Japanese useincluding windswept, slanted trunk, rock clinging, and
azaleas to create magnificent bonsai following yearsforest.Bonsai are highly regarded as a symbol of
of pruning, wiring and careful attention. The JapaneseJapanese culture and ideals. Contrary to popular
art of bonsai, and its precursor, the Chinese art ofbelief, bonsai are not tortured trees. A bonsai may
penjing, are rooted in the traditions of Asianhave areas of dead wood to give an impression of
culture.The art of raising bonsai dwarfed potted treesage. There are several techniques available to the
has enabled the Japanese to admire nature in anbonsai grower to increase the apparent age.No longer
indoor setting. The art of bonsai, as developed inexclusively an oriental art form, today bonsai is
America, is much freer in concept and style thanpracticed by thousands of people around the world,
Japanese bonsai.The quality of a bonsai tree ison every continent. The art of bonsai is the art of
measured on how well it portrays nature in miniatureimitating the spirit of nature. A bonsai industry of
form. A bonsai should have a well tapered trunk andconsiderable size exists in certain sections of
have branches all around the tree to give the bonsaiJapan.Francesca Black works in marketing at Bonsai
visual depth. The art of bonsai involves the bringingGarden and Pilates Shop leading portals for bonsai
together of tree and pot in visual harmony. "Bonsai"gardening and natural exercise.
simply means "potted tree." But many of the really