What is the history of bonsai and what are the representative works of each school?
Bonsai has always been one of the antiques beloved by literati and men of integrity. It is not only beautifully shaped but can also be preserved for a long time, and keeping it at home is very low-maintenance. Bonsai has always been a favorite of many friends, because it is a perfect combination of cultivation techniques and shaping art. Through the fusion of nature and art, we have created some endlessly memorable bonsai artworks.
As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, potted plant art had already appeared in Chinese gardens. By the Eastern Han dynasty, bonsai making began to pursue the expression of artistic conception. By the Tang and Song dynasties, famous poets such as Wang Wei, Du Fu, Bai Juyi and others already had recited verses to describe and praise bonsai.
China is the birthplace of bonsai in the world, so there are also many bonsai schools. Let us introduce some of the more famous schools of bonsai.
1. Lingnan school bonsai
Because Guangdong is located in the Lingnan region, bonsai from the Guangdong area is called Lingnan bonsai. There is relatively abundant sunlight and naturally plenty of water, which provides rich natural resources and excellent conditions for the development of Lingnan bonsai. Lingnan bonsai is mostly ceramic-based, and has always adhered to the effect of one tree, two stones, three stands.
2. Sichuan school bonsai
Sichuan school bonsai is mainly tree bonsai, because the shapes of ancient trees have always been gnarled and varied, giving people a rugged and peculiar feeling. Sichuan school bonsai generally uses golden bullet tree (Diospyros armata), ginkgo and so on. In terms of momentum, Sichuan school bonsai has the high, steep and deep characteristics of the Bashu region, and it has always maintained this in the structure and appearance of the bonsai.
3. Su school bonsai
Suzhou bonsai is very famous all over the world, because Suzhou has a humid climate and abundant water, which is very beneficial to plant growth, so Suzhou also mainly focuses on tree bonsai. Combined with the unique style of Suzhou gardens, it is simply a blend of scene and feeling, and endlessly thought-provoking.
Besides these three schools, there are also Yang school bonsai, Shanghai school bonsai and others. Each kind of bonsai has its own unique style, and it mainly depends on each person's preference.