Chinese Bonsai

Chinese Bonsai


Over the centuries the Chinese have developed the same principle for bonsai as the Japanese.In the first instance they,too,have the desire to learn from nature;both nationalities see bonsai as the art of imitating nature,of creating harmony,of making ourselves aware of that which is essential in life.But there are details of the art which are more important for Chinese bonsai masters than their Japanese counterparts,namely the relationship in size between dish and tree,roots and trunk,trunk and branches.
If you compare bonsai from the two countries on thing you will notice is that the Chinese often choose very large bonsai dishes which are very attractive,very old and precious.Their tree tend to be bigger than the Japanese,too,not infrequently reaching a height of 1m-1.5m and sometimes more.And often the roots of a Chinese bonsai look very thin in relation to the trunk.These trees simply grow abruptly out of the ground;the trunk is almost the same thickness from top to bottom,scarcely tapering at all as it reaches the crown of the tree.

Chinese Bonsai


The relationship in size between trunk and branches is also not so well balanced as in Japanese bonsai.You might find quite thin branches sticking abruptly out of thick trunks,and it is often only in the crown of the tree that you will find any very graceful branches.Sometimes,too,the angle at which branches hang seems to us somewhat audacious.
In China the following species of plants are the commonest for bonsai training:Chinese cypress,Chinese juniper,jasmine orange,oleaster,white pine...

Chinese Bonsai

Japanese Bonsai Styles

Windswept style


No two bonsai are the same.However,in Japanese bonsai some typical shapes have evolved,all of which are found in nature.The most important ones to be able to recognize are follows.

Individual trees
-Formal upright
-Curved informal upright
-Slanting style
-Semi cascade
-Cascade or hanging style

Triple trunk style


Trees with several trunks,and group plantings
-Twin trunk
-Triple trunk
-Clump
-Raft style
-Raft from root,or sinuous,style
-Multi-tree or group planting

Semi cascade style


Styles that may be planted singly or in groups
-Broom,or besom,style
-Windswept style
-Literati style
-Clinging-to-rock,or rock grown,style

Clinging-to-rock style