Why are bonsai so expensive? An old man reveals the reason

Have you ever wondered why a single bonsai costs so much? Though they are beautiful, they always seem to come in just those few shapes and styles, so why do some bonsai with small trunks and ordinary-looking shapes cost tens of thousands of yuan? At the bonsai exhibition area of the 2015 International City Ecology and Landscape Industry Expo, I learned a few things after listening to discussions among bonsai enthusiasts.

A few visitors at the scene thought the small bonsai market should be bigger, since they are cheap and you can take them home to look at, hold in your hand and play with. But the truth is not as simple as outsiders imagine. An old bonsai worker at the scene waved his hand and told everyone that small bonsai are no cheaper than large ones, and pointing to a small bonsai combination rack on site, he said, "This set, I estimate, would cost forty or fifty thousand yuan, and it should be no less than fifty thousand yuan."

Why? The old man explained that the most crucial reason lies in the care of bonsai, and in the feelings that arise during the process of caring for them. "This includes experience in care. In summer we water four times: once between 8:30 and 9 at night, once at one or two, once at five, and when it clouds over a bit during the day we spray some water. Because there is a temperature difference during the day, after two consecutive days the soil inside gets very hot, while the well water temperature is very low, differing from the surface temperature by more than ten degrees, so watering with it will cause problems. You won't see it in a day or two, but after a summer it will become sickly and crooked." The old man continued, "In care there is also something called pruning, just like a barber: keep what is needed, trim off just a little where it is not needed, and only then can you have various hairstyles. In this process of pruning, a kind of artistic mood is produced."

And care does not stop there; the overall coordination must also be considered. "Suzhou-style bonsai pays attention to 'pot, scenery, base' - all three must be well matched. The base is best from before the Republic of China period, something more antique, and this must be evaluated by experts. Another thing is that the tree values years of work, that is, the thickness of the branches and trunk. Don't look at how small it is; this branch cannot come about in less than ten-plus years." There was an uproar at the scene - ten-plus years of meticulous care, how much patience that takes. If you go traveling for half a month, you still have to think about how to keep an eye on it. The old man nodded in agreement. "This is like keeping a pet; after keeping it for a while, you don't want others to take care of it. If you don't tend to it well, your body is away but your heart is at home."

Socially necessary labor time determines value. Things into which people pour effort, time and heart have immeasurable value. Value is the basis of price. The reason bonsai are expensive is that they have reasons to be expensive; it is just that outsiders do not understand.

This article was compiled and recommended by "Bonsai Micro Magazine", selected from "China Landscape Web", and the copyright belongs to the original author.

[Bonsai enthusiast's reflections]

Text | @Zhou Yingzhi, Xiamen, Fujian

A seed is buried in the soil, and its strongest wish is to grow; its most persistent dream is to realize its own value!

Those flowers that bloom alone do not bloom because others like them, but simply because they themselves need to bloom. The blossoming of life, whether or not there is applause, is lived beautifully!

The most beautiful language in the world is saying to each other: Good morning!

Words need not be many. One "Good morning" warms our hearts; one "Good morning" fills every day with sunshine; one "Good morning" and we will smile and possess positive energy.

With a warm "Good morning", set sail for our new day!

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