subject: The History Of Bonsai Trees [print this page] Bonsai trees are a point cultural pride for Japan. The practice was popularized in Japan during the Heian period, 794 to 1185. Bonsai is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word, Penzai, which means tray scenery literally, but really, potted landscape.
The tree is of no use other than decorative. It is supposed to be contemplative for the viewer and an exercise in effort and ingenuity for the grower. There is no food or medicinal purposes for these plants. There are also no large-scale landscapes. As a result, the practice of Bonsai is very narrow and focused on one or a few plants in a pot.
One of the oldest known living examples is a National Treasure of Japan. It is a five needled pine considered to be at least five hundred years old. It can be seen in the Tokyo Imperial Palace collection.
They can be made with nearly any material. As long as it is perennial and has woody growth, it can be made into one. It also should branch and remain small in containment with root and crown pruning.
There are some favorites in this form though. These have characteristics that make them visually appealing on the compact scope of these miniature landscapes. These characteristics usually include small leaves or needles. Some favorites include ficus, because it is easy to grow, many of the evergreen trees, because of their unique wood textures and small needles.
To start one, the grower needs source material to train into a Bonsai. This material can come from a number of places. This is one of the few forms of plant propagation that does not succeed well from seed. Since the ultimate goal of Bonsai is a weathered and aged appearance, source material is often partially grown or even mature.
There are many intricate techniques in forming a tree. Leaf trimming defines the shape and cleans up the trunk. Pruning is usually the first step. It involves cutting off pieces of the plant to make it an appropriate shape. Wiring is used to hold trunks and branches in place. Clamping can be used in place of wiring if the specimen is too tough. Grafting can be used when a new piece of growing foliage is wanted in a place that didn't have foliage before. Defoliation can be used to make smaller new leaves grow in the place the large old ones were in. Deadwood is yet another technique used. This entails removing the bark from an entire branch to give the look of dead wood.
Bonsai trees are an art, a meditation, and a horticultural practice. There are thousands of years of history and culture behind this art form. They are beautiful living sculptures.
