Landscape Bonsai: Fitting Mountains and Rivers into a Tiny Space

Bonsai, meaning "a scene in a pot," holds a tiny world of just a few inches yet offers infinite scenery. It compresses the land into inches, revealing the grand within the small, like a three-dimensional, beautiful, miniature version of a scenic mountain-and-water area.

Bonsai originated in China during the Eastern Han dynasty. Throughout history, like poetry, calligraphy, painting and music, it has been a form of expressing emotion and meaning, and it long ago transcended its form to become a cultural symbol. Let us now explore the mysteries hidden within bonsai.

The art of bonsai gradually flourished during the Tang dynasty and became increasingly mature in the Song dynasty. Li He wrote in a poem: "Green waves soak the leaves, full of rich luster; fine bundles of dragon's beard, cut with scissors like dumplings," describing the pruning method for tree bonsai.

Bonsai falls into two main categories: tree-stump bonsai and landscape bonsai. The former later spread gradually to Japan, where it is called "bonsai" (potted planting).

The former uses trees as its main material and can be further divided into 4 types: those admired for branches, foliage, fruit and flowers

The latter makes greater use of rocks, water and soil as materials. Those mainly featuring water are water bonsai, those mainly featuring soil and rocks are dry bonsai, and those with both water and soil are water-and-dry bonsai.

Tree-stump bonsai is relatively basic and common, and over the course of its development it gradually formed different schools:

Lingnan: A unique branch-bending method based on "trunk chopping and branch training," with rugged, natural, elegant and bold forms.

Yangzhou school: Branches are tied and pruned into cloud-like pads, embodying the Jiangnan sentiment of "the tide levels the broad banks, the wind sets a single sail hanging," with an emphasis on three bends in every inch of branch.

Suzhou school: Its stylistic feature is tying and pruning branches into round pads; the six platforms, three supports and one crown is its typical tree form, excelling in delicate elegance and antique refinement.

Zhejiang school: The tall-trunk combined-planting style is its stylistic feature, vigorous and natural, with a contemporary feel.

Shanghai school: Natural and unrestrained by any single convention, striving to express the wild charm of mountain forests, bright and flowing.

Special bonsai: In the Qing dynasty court there appeared a type of artificial bonsai, with accent pieces made from precious materials such as jewels, jade, jadeite, coral, gold, silver and agate, paired with pots made by crafts including gold and silver work, enamel, jade, carved lacquer and inlay, namely artificial bonsai. Most were made by the inlay workshop of the Imperial Household Department's Workshop Office.

(Image: Gemstone plum blossoms, old Qing palace collection)

Below we introduce a relatively simple tree-stump bonsai to make: the curved-trunk style Podocarpus macrophyllus (yew plum pine) bonsai

1

Plant the specimen at an angle to help shape a curved-trunk style tree-stump bonsai. Cut away surplus branches.

2

Use iron wire and palm fiber to bind and shape it.

3

Shape the overall form of the tree stump.

4

A schematic of the work after pruning and shaping.

Bending within a space of mere inches, yet never losing its proud, unyielding spirit; old branches vigorous, mountain rocks jagged. Every work contains the maker's feelings and refined taste. Savor bonsai slowly, and savor traditional Chinese flavor.