| The Japanese refined and developed Bonsai | | | | and pot in visual harmony. "Bonsai" simply means |
| techniques and evolved the art form it is today. For | | | | "potted tree." But many of the really fine specimens |
| the Japanese, bonsai represents a fusion of strong | | | | have been pruned for more than 100 years. |
| ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of the | | | | Requiring many years of devoted attention and care |
| harmony between man, the soul and nature. | | | | to produce, the bonsai extends beauty and |
| The major aspects of Japanese bonsai, has not | | | | expresses the significance of life. The care involved in |
| changed significantly over time. | | | | creating and shaping a bonsai is considered a form of |
| Bonsai initially originated in Egypt thousands of years | | | | meditation in and of itself. |
| ago and moved to China. From China bonsai moved | | | | Over time, bonsai began to take on different styles, |
| to Japan. Where the Japanese perfected the art of | | | | each which varied immensely from one another. |
| bonsai. | | | | Today, hardy as well as tropical indoor bonsai are |
| Japanese use azaleas to create magnificent bonsai | | | | trained in classic styles, including windswept, slanted |
| following years of pruning, wiring and careful | | | | trunk, rock clinging, and forest. |
| attention. The Japanese art of bonsai, and its | | | | Bonsai are highly regarded as a symbol of Japanese |
| precursor, the Chinese art of penjing, are rooted in | | | | culture and ideals. Contrary to popular belief, bonsai |
| the traditions of Asian culture. | | | | are not tortured trees. A bonsai may have areas of |
| The art of raising bonsai dwarfed potted trees has | | | | dead wood to give an impression of age. There are |
| enabled the Japanese to admire nature in an indoor | | | | several techniques available to the bonsai grower to |
| setting. The art of bonsai, as developed in America, is | | | | increase the apparent age. |
| much freer in concept and style than Japanese | | | | No longer exclusively an oriental art form, today |
| bonsai. | | | | bonsai is practiced by thousands of people around |
| The quality of a bonsai tree is measured on how well | | | | the world, on every continent. The art of bonsai is |
| it portrays nature in miniature form. A bonsai should | | | | the art of imitating the spirit of nature. A bonsai |
| have a well tapered trunk and have branches all | | | | industry of considerable size exists in certain sections |
| around the tree to give the bonsai visual depth. The | | | | of Japan. |
| art of bonsai involves the bringing together of tree | | | | |