Impressions of Han Xuenian's Pine-Fragrant Hill Bonsai (Part Two): Whispering

Han Xuenian's Mountain Pine Bonsai "Cleverly Borrowing a Pine from Mount Huang"

Whispering

- Impressions of the "Pine-Fragrant Hill" Works (Part Two)

Original Author | Ke Xiaoren

Han Xuenian's Work "Ceaseless"

"The jaggedness of mountains and waters faintly visible"?? A mountain pine, several slender bare roots hanging upside down above the "precipice" - a figure about to plunge, surrounded by indifferent mountain wind, swaying, rubbing, squeezing, toying?? Thus: fatal harm approaches step by step, the threat to survival only grows?? At this moment, it resolutely pours all its life passion into the role of "ceaseless self-strengthening," even if it must endure the century-long loneliness of "a thousand jun hanging by a single hair," it will still display the life essence of "biting firmly into the green mountain and never letting go," writing out steadfastness.

"Ceaseless," "a strange law" - the reflection of life walks through the empty valley: "completing the soul's self-redemption."

Bright moon. Reading you on an autumn night is such a wonderful thing! Reading your courage, fearlessness, free-spiritedness, heroism, firmness?? Life / Ceaseless??

Han Xuenian's Work "Spirit"

Spirit: refers to "heart" ("all are called heart" - Zhuangzi, De Chong Fu). The world of "Spirit" is the subjective spiritual world.

This mountain pine in the image, on its journey, how many twists and turns does it need "to swim across the darkness and ruthlessness in dreams"? "How many times must a heart break before the bodhi of destiny can grow"? - "Vast sea of bitterness, turn back and reach the shore."

The wind of the wild mountains is cold and deep. "I" must "turn back" (become clear, awaken), wanting to seek that reflection of life in "a great river" (the spiritual world) - beneath the blue sky, "my" soul (a ridge of lush green). "Listen to the sound of flowing time touching all things"?? Then, gathering the radiance of the sun, "letting go of greed, ignorance, anger?? awakening, arriving at the shore of true peace and joy??"

Han Xuenian's Work "Keeping Watch"

Clouds pull sunlight along to wander to the ends of the earth. Yet it (a mountain pine) still stands on such "land" (a bonsai pot), combing through the true colors of growth. Day after day, never disdaining the soil beneath its feet.

It, broad-minded. Smoothly striding forward, bowing, leisurely pausing, then slightly turning, closing its eyes happily and proudly?? Not wanting to recall that sudden vanishing clamor, in the moment of giving up movement imagining a devotion that will be its greatest cultivation - returning to the "keeping watch" of times past.

Keeping watch over an eagle's spring, summer, autumn, and winter; keeping watch over that "sea of moonlight" that grows thinner past and present, and that little stream that never turns back... Keeping watch over one's own aging figure - that is a splendor of the self.

Keeping watch, sometimes, is a quality. Sharing "Keeping Watch," gaining a galloping encounter beyond expectation.

Han Xuenian's Work "Remembering Dreams of Chang'an"

"A stretch of moonlight over Chang'an?? always the sentiment of Jade Pass??" (Wang Wei)

A mountain pine, standing with modest bearing, are those crisscrossing thoughts gazing toward the direction of the ancient city Chang'an?

"Dreams empty, lingering west of the window, murmuring to the moon." ("Remembering Chang'an" lyrics) The gossip-loving branches and leaves of the mountain pine, are they also searching for the footprints of ancients from a thousand years ago over there in the first capital in history to be called Jing - the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties?

"Mount Tianmu connects to the sky and stretches across it, its momentum pulls up the Five Peaks and obscures Red City" (Li Bai). At this time, this scene, this state, are they still imagining the scene outside Chang'an of that era, the beacon fires and wolf smoke, drums and horns heard all around, the ceaseless, melodious, unrestrained momentum?

Ancient matters recede, remembered dreams remain. Chang'an is only an eternal ancient city, an eternal imperial capital in imagination?? History is actually like a beam of light; from the fragments one can listen to stories that cannot be replicated, ponder the tumultuous years of a dynasty's changes and evolution. Between ashes flying and smoke extinguishing, knocking on a trace of ancient sound that exists; peering into the sorrow deep within the remembered dreamtime?? Perhaps, this is a kind of wonderfully rich poetry and good fortune.

"The long wind sends autumn geese ten thousand li, facing this one may drink heartily in the high tower." Li Bai's poetic sentiment, in our interest in reading, is telling of the original intention behind the creation of the "Remembering Dreams of Chang'an" mountain pine bonsai.

Han Xuenian's Work "Willow Rhythm in Fine Threads"

The exposed roots and the drooping branches and leaves (as in the image), pulling at vein-like patterns like willow threads, so clean and empty as to be somewhat extraordinary, boldly performing the poem "wind blowing wind seeking wind" - "wind overlays the willow threads' charm with transformed meanings": "Willow Rhythm in Fine Threads," letting a mountain pine complete a nirvana belonging to a willow tree; letting "willow threads" pierce through the allure of March, like "still holding a pipa," covering the face, and covering the heart.

This is the "shadow" of wind (Suren style). Only when wind blows wind can "Suren's shadow" be so real - moreover time, past and present, are so identical. Thus, the future has already come, "pine wind" and "willow rhythm," nearly "Arabian Nights"??.

Han Xuenian's Work "Natural Charm"

Natural charm: the delight of nature. A mountain pine (as in the image) with a smiling look upward slowly "rises," and upon reaching the height of "thought," naturally and gracefully ties a "great knot" inward, and with the help of slanting light weaves and patches its mottled scaly bark, thickening it in dreams, sincerely expressing, letting an elegant "surprise" imperceptibly seep out. Then joyfully descending, straight to the ground and halfway to the sky, with great interest ties another "knot" outward. At the same time, letting the branch tips bloom green eastward - perhaps just for the sufficient reason of that trunk approaching the ground with the sentiment of "a pillar of waves": because the ground has a generous and purposeful waiting.

Appreciating "Natural Charm," delight arises spontaneously, the eyes of interest grow more colorful, the mood of charm gallops across the sky: Bing Xin's "To Little Readers" Sixteen, "The road was built following the heights and lows of the mountain, winding and twisting, full of natural charm." The literary context between these lines and the artistic conception of Xuenian's "Natural Charm" mountain pine bonsai beautifully complement each other.

Therefore, as long as we can appreciate with our hearts even a small passage's meaning or a tiny image of a bonsai, it is quite delightful, and we never tire of it??.

Han Xuenian's Work "Silence (Quiet Enlightenment)"

A mountain pine of "pure thought," in order to "joint" upward in sequence, with the pulse of green? following all malleable forms, at the moment of "all sounds hushed," with this originating posture, neither branching nor spreading, twisting and turning upward - twisting, arching, bending, until reversing and bending downward: more schemes and imaginings all fall to the high place of the heart, letting what can be heard be heard to the fullest, letting what can be ignored all be ignored, not stirred by a period of calm, not imagining what "silence" should be like? Silence has its own desolate moments?? Because the "water of destiny" is always finding reasons for itself to live. Therefore, that "green cloud of advancement" always on every night when starlight falls, turns back ceaselessly from longing, letting joyfulness keep watch over silence.

"Silence" - that is a kind of sleepless depth. Understood. Delightful.

Han Xuenian's Work "Huaisu's Ink Rhythm"

Generally, good "cursive script quality" is a comprehensive embodiment of the writer's thoughts and feelings, cultural and artistic cultivation, life realm, and calligraphic skill. As for each stroke of each character, it must present a lyrical focus; at minimum, the four elements of invoking the realm, entering the realm, transforming the realm, and exiting the realm should be "fully conceived in the mind," proceeding with varied weight, spreading according to emotion, melting the self, serving overall beauty with the artistic beauty of composition?? Xuenian understands this principle. Therefore, he can rationally follow the power of "cursive script" writing, applying the brilliance of "ink rhythm" to bonsai creation, performing the calligraphic brushwork of bonsai, making people feel that bonsai craftsmanship and calligraphy art possess equal charm. His masterpieces such as "Brush Walking Dragon and Snake," "Iron Strokes and Silver Hooks," etc., are greatly favored and loved by readers.

This "Huaisu's Ink Rhythm" mountain pine bonsai likewise uses the technique of "cursive script" writing to fully present (as in the image) the "essence, energy, and spirit" (Daoist internal alchemy terms, also meaning spiritual strength) of "Huaisu" (a "wild and eccentric" monk and great calligraphy master) - (from top to bottom) first with "side tip" spreading the brush hairs, dotting, lightly applying, rounding and turning, then immediately lifting to "center tip" lightly dragging down, then again with "side tip" trembling, rising and falling. Pausing and turning, reversing back to the upper left in continuous winding, completing in one breath the atmosphere of "flowing clouds and water"; afterward, with both upright and side tips together freely and unconstrainedly wielding the brush momentum, descending from the heavens, quite rich in the evolution of "house-leak" traces. These writing forces can make a bonsai's creativity attain "Huaisu's Ink Rhythm" - almost impossible to distinguish for a moment, and beautiful "to utter confusion."

(This article is an original submission by Mr. Ke Xiaoren)

Han Xuenian's Mountain Pine Bonsai "Brush Walking Dragon and Snake"

Han Xuenian's Mountain Pine Bonsai "Iron Strokes and Silver Hooks"

Han Xuenian's Mountain Pine Bonsai "Colorful Sleeves Gently Brushing"

Han Xuenian's Mountain Pine Bonsai "A Century of Tempering Reveals Elegance"

Han Xuenian's Mountain Pine Bonsai "Indifference"

Han Xuenian's Mountain Pine Bonsai "Wind and Frost Years Full of Charm"

Han Xuenian's Mountain Pine Bonsai "Strong Pine and Verdant Green"

Wonderful replay:

Chinese bonsai welcomes you!

Enjoy at any timeAppreciatethe bonsai exhibition hall

Promote bonsai culture, exchange bonsai techniques!

Appreciate bonsai art, share a happy life!