The Sichuan style of penjing is an important school of Chinese penjing art
Penjing is an art form that uses plants and rocks as its basic materials to present natural landscapes within a pot, and is called a “three-dimensional painting” and a “silent poem”.
Chinese penjing originated from potted plants 7000 years ago; by the Han Dynasty, the "foujing" (pot landscape) appeared; during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, landscape penjing began to emerge; by the Tang Dynasty, it shifted toward poetic and picturesque expression; in the Song Dynasty, a distinction was made between landscape penjing and tree penjing; in the Yuan Dynasty, a leap toward miniaturization was achieved; in the Ming and Qing dynasties, techniques matured and monographs were published; but in modern times it fell into decline. From after Liberation to the present, it went from recovery to stagnation, and then into a stage of great development. This is the most concise 9-stage history of Chinese penjing.
In the course of its long development, Chinese penjing art has formed eight major penjing schools: the elegant and classic Su style, the roaming dragon and lion style Yang style, the ancient and majestic Sichuan style, the meaningful and spirited Lingnan style, the simple and vigorous Hui style, the robust and refined Hai style, the dignified Tong style, and the strongly contemporary Zhe style.
Among these, the ancient and majestic Sichuan style penjing originated in Chengdu, and is represented by Chengdu and Chongqing. Its craftsmanship is exquisite, with extremely strong regional characteristics and modeling features. There is a folk saying in Sichuan: “A penjing without roots is like a stuck-in twig.” Therefore, Sichuan style tree penjing excels in ancient simplicity, ruggedness, grace, and elegance; its tree forms are relatively solemn, giving consideration to all sides and not tending toward extremes. Sichuan style landscape penjing focuses on roughness, depth, strength, steepness, and secluded wonder, embodying the artistic characteristics of vigorous grandeur, deep refinement, ancient simplicity, and precipitousness, expressing majesty, steepness, seclusion, elegance, and wonder, with unique features.
Sichuan style penjing is further divided into West Sichuan and East Sichuan penjing. Although West Sichuan and East Sichuan have certain differences in some specific production techniques and landscape modeling, the basic principles of composition and production methods are consistent. The mountains and waters of Sichuan provide unique natural conditions for making penjing. Sichuan style tree penjing generally uses Diospyros cathayensis, Serissa japonica, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Ginkgo biloba, Lagerstroemia indica, Chaenomeles speciosa, plum blossom, Pyracantha fortuneana, camellia, rhododendron, etc.; landscape penjing uses sand flake stone, stalactite, mica stone, sand accumulated stone, turtle-vein stone, as well as newly developed varieties as production stones.
In the golden autumn season, the “2015 Sichuan Province Seventh Penjing Exhibition and Wenjiang District Second Penjing, Flower, and Nursery Stock Horticulture Exhibition” will grandly set sail on September 28 at Wenjiang Tianfu Flower City. At that time, national penjing masters will be selected, and gold, silver, and bronze award penjing will be selected. Lovers of penjing, especially of Sichuan style penjing, should definitely go and take a look.