Bonsai is the art of growing miniature trees and plants in containers and shaping them to resemble a real tree in nature. The shape is achieved by skilful manipulation and grooming of leaves and branches, with the aim of keeping specimens beautiful.
The art form originated in mainland China, where it is called penzai, more than 1,700 years ago in the Jin (265-420) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. It increased in popularity during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Japanese imperial emissaries to Tang China took the art back to Japan. The art is still practised in China today, often under the name of penjing, but its popularity has firmly taken root, with bonsai groups and specialist nurseries all over the world.
The art of bonsai is a sense of aesthetics, with care and patience coming together. Nature is regarded as endowing each plant with special qualities, so the trainers should be able to make use of their distinctive characters. Any type of tree or shrub can be turned into a bonsai - pine, junipers, beech, maples.
Many styles of bonsai exist, and in China there are 12 basic types: single-tree, two-tree, multiple-trunk on one stump, the forest style, cascading plant, semi-cascading plant, overlooking-the-water style, reclining style, branching-out style, dropping style, mother-with-son style and rock-clinging style.
Different schools of bonsai practice have emerged. Chinese bonsai can be classified into six major schools: Suzhou and Zhejiang school, Hunan and Hubei school, Sichuan school, Liaoning school, Beijing and Shanghai school, and Lingnan (Guangzhou) school. Some schools emphasise refinement, while others emphasise strength.
Bonsai means 'potted tree' in Japanese, and the pot is an integral part of the art. Choosing the right pot is seen as an art in itself, requiring careful consideration of the right size, shape, texture and colour.