World of Bonsai and Gardening

The Art of Penjing 樹木盆景

The Chinese Bonsai is called Penjing, also known as penzai, is the ancient Chinese art of depicting artistically formed trees, other plants, and landscapes in miniature.

Penjing generally fall into one of three categories:

Shumu penjing (樹木盆景): Tree penjing that focuses on the depiction of one or more trees and optionally other plants in a container, with the composition's dominant elements shaped by the creator through trimming, pruning, and wiring.

Shanshui penjing (山水盆景): Landscape penjing that depicts a miniature landscape by carefully selecting and shaping rocks, which are usually placed in a container in contact with water. Small live plants are placed within the composition to complete the depiction.

Shuihan penjing (水旱盆景): A water and land penjing style that effectively combines the first two, including miniature trees and optionally miniature figures and structures to portray a landscape in detail.

Similar practices exist in other cultures, including the Japanese traditions of bonsai and saikei, as well as the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese hòn non bộ. Generally speaking, tree penjing specimens differ from bonsai by allowing a wider range of tree shapes (more "wild-looking") and by planting them in bright-colored and creatively shaped pots. In contrast, bonsai are more simplified in shape (more "refined" in appearance) with larger-in-proportion trunks, and are planted in unobtrusive, low-sided containers with simple lines and muted colors.

While saikei depicts living landscapes in containers, like water and land penjing, it does not use miniatures to decorate the living landscape. Hòn non bộ focuses on depicting landscapes of islands and mountains, usually in contact with water, and decorated with live trees and other plants. Like water and land penjing, hòn non bộ specimens can feature miniature figures, vehicles, and structures. Distinctions among these traditional forms have been blurred by some practitioners outside of Asia, as enthusiasts explore the potential of local plant and pot materials without strict adherence to traditional styling and display guidelines.

Japanese Av

Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, in particular, have a strong tradition of penjing. These regions have a subtropical climate that allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of plant species, including many that are suitable for penjing. Additionally, the lush natural scenery and landscapes of southern China have inspired and informed the artistic expression of penjing.

Other regions in southern China, such as Fujian and Jiangsu, also have notable penjing traditions. These traditions may vary in terms of style and the specific plant species used, but they all share the common goal of creating miniature natural landscapes in containers.

While penjing is popular in southern China, it is not limited to this region. The art form is practiced and appreciated throughout the country and has gained international recognition as well. Each region may have its own distinct style and approach to penjing, reflecting the local environment and cultural influences.

What is the difference between Chinese bonsai and a Japanese bonsai tree?

Basically, a Japanese bonsai tree appears a little more formal than a Chinese penjing. Even Japanese bonsai containers are usually more subtle, in both color and design. So that is the very basic difference. You rarely, if ever, see rocks or figurines in Japanese composition.

Chinese bonsai has always fascinated me. (Perhaps that's the reason, bunjin aka literati is one of my favorite "bonsai" styles.) It wasn't until I read Karin Albert's 'Penjing: A Chinese Renaissance several years ago that I grasped a deeper meaning and genuine differences. She wrote a beautifully worded, thorough article on the subject for the Art of Bonsai blog.

Frequently, designs appear bolder, livelier, and more playful, sometimes even bizarre. By contrast, a Japanese bonsai tree tends to look neater and more formalized. Regarding the latter, there is a greater sense of control; the viewer gets the feeling that not even the most minute detail has been left to chance. The minimalism of many Japanese designs can feel comforting and safe, but it also produces a high degree of predictability.

By and large, it seems that Japanese artists have a strong tendency to impose order on their creations, whereas Chinese artists appear willing to embrace a measure of chaos. Clearly, they are less concerned with rules and the pursuit of perfection. Does it mean that there are no rules in penjing at all? Absolutely not. Conversations with penjing artists reveal that they are less interested in displays of technical virtuosity and ideal form. Instead, they seek to capture and convey sentiment and mood in their work. Their goal is to reveal an inner beauty, an essence inherent in nature.

Famous Bonsai producers in China include the Shanghai Botanic Gardens whose mission is preventing plant extinction and educating people. With over 150 Bonsai gardens, Suzhou is believed to have the loveliest Bonsai gardens in China. One of Suzhou’s many gardens, the Humble Administrators Garden, is listed as a World Heritage Site. The Hangzhou Flower Nursery in Zhejiang is famous for its two-and-a-half acre Bonsai garden that includes 3,500 Bonsai plants.

Classifications

Chinese Bonsai can be classified into several groups including size, the province from which they are derived and the type of Bonsai. Although Chinese Bonsai comes in many sizes, Chinese Rock Bonsai stands out because they are available from just a few centimeters in height up to two meters in height. Provinces throughout China have their own genres, or schools, of Bonsai. Among them are the Suzhou School (featuring 'Tree Branches Overhanging a Cliff'), the Zhejiang School (featuring 'Tall Trunk'), the Sichuan School (featuring 'Reclining and Slanting Trunk'), the Hunan School (featuring 'Hanging Cliff'), the Hubei School (featuring 'Flat-Top'), the Liaoning School (featuring 'Earthworm Curves'), the Beijing School, the Shanghai School, and the Lingnan (Guangzhou) School. Types of Bonsai include tree Bonsai, landscape Bonsai, flower Bonsai, plant Bonsai, and rock Bonsai.

Care and Maintenance

Bonsai plants need regular care just like other plants. Watering, fertilizing, trimming and the occasional re-potting (every three years or when the roots are bound) will ensure that the Bonsai is healthy and lives long. The art of Bonsai takes patience and diligence but with proper care, a Bonsai will repay the owner many times over. Transforming a small tree can transform your life.

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The Complete Book of Bonsai --> I've been into bonsai for 25 years and this is the basic Bible for beginner and intermediate bonsai enthusiasts. It has an excellent section on techniques, including pruning, wiring, and whatnot, and it has a large species-specific tree guide. If you're into bonsai and want only one book, this is it.

Indoor Bonsai The Great Selection --> Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual. With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai--including pruning, wiring and stretching it.

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai --> In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation.

Bonsai Survival Manual --> Problem solving when your Bonsai get sick. Expand your gardening repertoire as you create a captivating and exquisite miniature world. In this introductory guide, Colin Lewis covers everything you need to know to design, grow, and successfully maintain attractive bonsai.

Bonsai and the art of Penjing --> Bonsai & Penjing, Ambassadors of Beauty and Peace describe how Chinese penjing and North American bonsai were later added to the Museum, making its collection the most comprehensive in the world. Stories of individual trees and forest plantings are featured, as are the roles played by the skilled and talented creators of these living art forms people such as John Naka, Saburo Kato, Yuji Yoshimura, Harry Hirao, and Dr. Yee-Sun Wu.

Bonsai with Japanese Maples --> With their delicate foliage, seasonal color changes, and intricate pattern of branching, Japanese maples are among the most popular and suitable plants for bonsai design. In this long-awaited book, internationally renowned expert Peter Adams discusses both the specific horticultural needs of Japanese maples as bonsai subjects and illustrates proven techniques for creating and maintaining beautiful specimens.

The Modern Bonsai Practice --> The most current, useful information on growing Bonsai. A fresh, practical, definitive, comprehensive reference guide to the finest art of horticulture: growing miniature trees. Common sense bonsai answers separating myth from fact with depth and detail. Appropriate for both bonsai hobbyists and experienced practitioners.

The art of Chinese Penjing Bonsai - Landscape Bonsai

The Harmony of Feng Shui & Bonsai

Bonsai and Feng Shui are two ancient practices that both represent prosperity, harmony and peace. In recent years, people have begun to combine the two practices in an effort to bring balance and beauty to the home. The history of Feng Shui dates back on 12th century and I think that this blog post would be endless writing about the entire history of Feng Shui. There are unlimited tree species that can fit perfectly in a modern style living room. The tree species can be found in following blog post --> Tree species used for Bonsai

What Is Feng Shui?

Basically Feng Shui isn't rocket science, dont be afraid to ask questions. Any Feng Shui master that studied its principles and understands Feng Shui philosophy will be more than happy to offer guidance.

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that concentrates on the placement of items and arrangement of space to achieve environmental harmony. Feng, meaning wind, and shui, water, are two elements used in the practice. There is as much talk about feng shui as there is confusion about it. The range of feng shui stereotypes is very wide – from easy tips on how to move your furniture and instantly change your life to complex and often contradicting calculations for every area of your house and every action you take in life.

People turn to feng shui for all sorts of reasons – to find their life mate, attract wealth, improve health

Famous Feng Shui Book by Lillian Too

or get the winning lottery ticket.

Does all this confusion mean that feng shui is a new age fad with no power? I mean, if feng shui were a serious science and art, why there is so much confusion and contradiction about it?

Starting with 2 baguas (why on earth there are 2 baguas and which one is better?) to very different answers you’ll get to the same question; I understand why feng shui is often equated to new age mumbo jumbo and something a serious person would not even look into.

However, here is the thing – serious people do look into it, and they do get results. I have many clients who are anything but “new age junkies” and they achieved great results by applying feng shui. So what is feng shui and why is it so difficult to understand it?

Well, for one, feng shui is a very, very old art and science. Its history goes back thousands of years. That is really, really old, which means really, really easy to misinterpret.

Because feng shui is such an ancient body of knowledge, it has also been fully “steeped” in cultural stereotypes. This makes it very important to distinguish between the culturally specific expressions of energy and the very essence of any given form of energy.

For example, when I think of a lifelong love partnership, I can come up with many images, none of them being the Mandarin ducks (the traditional feng shui representation of love & marriage). This is because I have no cultural or emotional connections to this image.

However, for many Chinese people the image of Mandarin ducks will genuinely speak of devoted love because there is strong cultural lore connected to this image. So, approaching feng shui in an intelligent way and with a good dose of healthy discrimination is the cornerstone of successful feng shui work.

Ok, so what is feng shui?

Feng shui is part of the complex Taoist body of knowledge that includes the field of traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture, use of herbs, etc), energy work such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi; Chinese astrology and other disciplines from the wide field of philosophical knowledge related to the I Ching, Tao Te Ching and other ancient Taoist works.

In itself, feng shui is composed of many schools. It started with the Landscape School (which studies the landforms and their influence on human health and well-being) and then branched out into many different schools – the Flying Star (Xuan Kong), the Eight Mansions (East/West), the Four pillars (Ba Zhi), etc.

Basically, various feng shui schools that deal with either the time or the space dimensions (or both). The youngest feng shui school is the Western school based on the BTB feng shui school brought to US in mid-eighties.

History aside (if you are curious, you can read my articles on how feng shui started) – what is feng shui in a nutshell and why should you care? Let’s stay with this question for a bit.

Feng shui is, first and foremost, energy work. The most accurate definition of feng shui I have ever came across is of feng shui as acupuncture of the space.

Feng shui opens up powerful energy channels in your home to help it get stronger, more harmonious and powerful. This, in turns, nourishes and strengthens your own energy.

Ancient feng shui masters knew what quantum physics is telling us today – that everything around us is composed of endless energy fields connecting everything you see, feel and touch (as well as millions of things we do not see with our physical eyes).

There is really no separation between you and everything that surrounds you (that sure includes your home).

So if you want to stay healthy, happy, enjoy love and success (or whatever your definition of happy life is); your space has to support and nourish you. It has to be well suited for your energy.

Just like being in a company of a happy person makes your own energy happy, the same happens with your living (or working) space. If your space has good feng shui vibes – healthy, uplifting, loving and nourishing, you will feel supported and happy.

Everything will flow easier for you just because this is the energy you are surrounded by and nourished most often.

Compare a good feng shui house to a piece of clothing that is really wonderful in all aspects – beautiful, comfortable, made of exquisite materials, etc.

By the same token, a bad feng shui house is like wearing ill suited clothing day in, day out – imagine how this feels.

It definitely makes you feel restricted, unhappy, angry, and your energy becomes stagnant and blocked. (The reason I use the example with clothing is because houses are often called “your third skin” in feng shui, with clothing being your second skin).

Of course, it is much easier to see this dynamic with clothing than with your living or working spaces! A house can look beautiful and have really awful feng shui; and a house can also look pretty modest but have very harmonious, healthy feng shui energy.

History Of Feng Shui in brief

Evidence shows that the practice dates back to around 4000 BC, when the doors of many Chinese homes were aligned to certain patterns of stars that appeared following the winter solstice. Early practitioners of Feng Shui used astronomy in this manner to identify correlations between the universe and humans. Other ancient sites confirm that the practice was used throughout the country in building construction.

Feng Shui became more popular during the 12th century, when China was ruled by the Song Dynasty. Historians believe the practice surged at the time due to its connections with Confucianism, the era’s dominant philosophy. The practice saw resurgence in the 19th century when the Chinese government published official charts and diagrams to promote Feng Shui.

Some aspects of Feng Shui inspired environment

feng shui apartment - classic apartments with fengshui atmosphere

Bonsai is displayed at the right hand corner of the open space room

Modern style meeting room with Bonsai tree in full display

Small living room with Bonsai placed in the middle. Some may like it, some may not.

The kind of bathroom I would love to have

Theories Of Feng Shui

Feng shui theories today mainly work with the goal to arrange the environment made by humans in certain spots known to have good Qi. In order to find this spot, it should be the right location and an axis in time-based on the accepted theories. In order to understand it better, here are some of the theories that feng shui has been known to uphold in its practice.

The Qi, pronounce as “chi”, is a difficult word to understand and is usually left as it is, without translation. In the most literal sense, the word means “air”. In today’s feng shui, Qi is similar to the word “energy”. A more traditional explanation of Qi as it relates to an understanding of local environments, the orientation of buildings, and the interaction between the land the vegetation and the soil quality. An instrument that is used to determine the flow of Qi is the luopan.

The theory of Qi stems from the different beliefs from the Axial Age. One such belief holds that the heavens influence life on Earth. This may seem outrageous to some people, but scientists today now know that space weather exists and can affect some technology such as GPS, power grids, communication and navigation systems, etc. and the internal orienting faculties of even birds and other creatures.

Polarity

Polarity is another theory used in the practice of feng shui. It is expressed in feng shui as the Yin and Yang Theory. Polarity that is expressed through yin and yang can be compared to a bipolar magnetic field. It is made up of two forces- one creating a force and one receiving it. Yang is the force acting and yin is receiving. This interaction is considered as an early understanding of Qirality. The Yin Yang Theory and connected to another theory called the Five Phase Theory or Five Element Theory.

The so-called “five elements” of feng shui are water, wood, fire, earth or soil, and metal. These elements are said to be composed of yin and yang in precise amounts. The interaction between the two forces became the foundation for the practice of feng shui and how it is said to strive to achieve balance.

Bagua

The two ancient diagrams that are known as the Bagua are common fixtures in the practice in feng shui. They can be compared to the cardinal points of the compass today. The bagua diagrams are also linked with the sifang or “four directions” method of divination that was popularly used during the Shang dynasty although the sifang is considered to be much older.

It was also known to be used at Niuheliang as well as a big fixture in the Hongshan culture’s practice of astronomy. And it is in this area of China that can be connected to Huangdi, who was also known as the Yellow Emperor. It was Huangdi who was known to have invented the south-pointing spoon.

The cardinal directions that contained in the bagua diagram are said to be determined by the marker-stars of the mega-constellations known as the Four Celestial Animals. The East is considered to be the Blue Green Dragon. The South is the Red Bird. The West is also known to be the White Tiger while the North stood for the Dark Turtle.

These feng shui theories also loom large even in today’s practice of trying to achieve a good balance in the environment as well as the lives of people.

An Introduction To Feng Shui’s Guidelines

The following guidelines represent basic foundational aspects of Feng Shui and can be applied to any dwelling, landscape, or environment.

Clutter should be eliminated as much as possible.

There should be a clear line of sight from chair positions to door entrances.

Straight lines and sharp corners should be avoided where people rest.

Curved and twisted roads are often used to confuse and eliminate evil spirits.

The power of reflection and redirection can be harnessed by strategically placing crystals, wind chimes, and mirrors around the home.

japanese adult mature wife fumie tokikoshi japan actress av idol

What Is Bonsai?

Bonsai is an ancient Asian practice that involves creating miniature tree specimens. Both an art and a science, Bonsai combines aesthetic beauty with natural plants. To successfully grow and care for a Bonsai, growers must have patience and appreciate the plant’s essential spirit.

What Is The Connection Between Bonsai And Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is all about fostering harmony and balance. In a similar manner, Bonsai trees are trained to

grow in shapes that represent natural balance. The trees can be grown in many styles, including cascading, upright, group and forest styles. Each of these styles brings a certain harmony to the tree.

Feng Shui supports the addition of plants in the home, including Bonsai trees. When placed in an office setting, the trees are believed to bring luck. This is especially true of plants placed in the room’s east, south-east or south corners. Bonsai trees can also be used to soften sharp lines and promote air flow through dead spaces.

Bonsai trees also bring the important element of wood into the home in a natural way. According to Feng Shui, wood is one of the five elements of life. As such, wood influences the flow of qi and is believed to have healing properties.

Plants, including Bonsai trees, can be a good indicator of the type of energy present in a certain environment. Plants are far more sensitive than humans when it comes to environmental energy. If your Bonsai tree dies, replace it with another tree in the same space. The death of the second tree usually indicated negative energy in the area.

When the principles of Feng Shui are applied to Bonsai, the result is a balanced natural landscape that in turn can bring balance to the surrounding environment. Bonsai trees are a practical way to bring both nature and the positive energy associated with Feng Shui into the home.

Bonsai in Korea

Korea is famous for its lush gardens and beautiful landscapes. As a matter of fact, Bonsai's are popular in Korea. The yearly selling growth rate of Bonsai plants in South Korea is aproximately 5 % . One of the most famous Bonsai sights in Korea is Bunjae Museum, which offers thousands of different Bonsai trees on display. We visited in the middle of winter. Most of the lakes in the

surrounding parks had frozen and the top daytime temperatures were not even making it above freezing. When we first entered the nursery I wasn’t sure we were at the right place. I could hardly see any bonsai! We soon learnt that the whole collection was sheltering in huge greenhouses for the winter but that’s a whole other post. One of the most fascinating Bonsai trees is the Juniper, I happen to discover a beautiful Juniper at the Bunjae Museum. What was interesting about this nursery was how it was run. In the Japanese nurseries I have visited the trees that were living within the nursery either belonged to the nurseryman or a customer but nearly all the work was done on the trees by the professional nurseryman. This very interesting museum is basically the Korean version of Omiya museum of Japan.

Here in the Korean Bunjae Museum, hobby growers could rent bench space and grow their trees as they liked while enjoying the luxuries of a nursery such as misted green houses, regular watering, and a professional grower on site to call on for advice and or lessons etc. It seemed like a really good system and one I could see working well at other places. To imagine the ease at which you could take holidays without having to organise someone to water or without having to move the collection to a friends backyard makes this nurseries system seem like a great idea.

Now just because the growers in this green house were hobby growers it didn’t mean the trees were of a sub standard level. In fact there was a whole range of standards of trees many of which were very high leveled. The Bunjae Museum is for Bonsai enthusiasts an attraction by itself.

Japanese adult wife and mature fumie tokikoshi shiho kimura hot with young men

Moving on to another beauty in Korea is the Spirited Garden at Jeju Island. I am sure that many of you have never heard the Spirited Garden before, well it can be found on any guide book of Jeju Island. Spirited Garden is the new name of Bunjae Arpia, renamed in 2007 to commemorate the 15th anniversary after opening and to renew the garden as an international garden. Hundreds of potted plants are located in Nature Garden with a theme of oreum and water.

The history of the garden started in 1963 when Seong Beomyeong, a director, came to Jeju and cultivated the wasteland full of rocks. The garden came into the international spotlight as the beautiful garden was created from the wastelands by a single farmer. The garden has been visited by many honored public figures such as Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao from China, Nakasone from Japan, Kim Yongsun from North Korea and others. Currently, about 400 planted trees are on display. Also, visitors can see various facilities including stone walls and stone towers stacked with Jeju volcanic stones, the largest artificial waterfalls in Jeju, and a pond meeting the waterfalls with large-sized carp.

Grown out of long term observation and meditation over art and life, this Spirited Garden has been called one of the most beautiful garden in the world, attracting people from all over the world. It has become a ven - ue for some people to do exploration and research. Well, a visit to Jeju Island is an eye opening experience in general.

South Korea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons which is ideal for the most varieties of Bonsai trees. Winters are usually long, cold and dry. Summers are very short, hot, and humid. Spring and autumn are pleasant but also short in duration. Seoul's mean temperature in January is -5 degrees Celsius to - 2.5° Celsius (23°- 27,5° Fahrenheit) and in July the mean temperature is about 22.5° C to 25° C (71°- 75° Fahrenheit).

The country generally has enough rainfall, rarely it does less than 75 centimeters of rain fall in any given year; for the most part, rainfall is over 100 centimeters. Amounts of precipitation can however vary from year to year. Serious droughts occur about once every eight years. About two-thirds of the annual precipitation occurs between June and September.

South Korea is less vulnerable to typhoons than neighboring countries. From one to three typhoons can be expected per year. Typhoons usually pass over South Korea in late summer, especially in August and bring torrential rains. All these ideal climate conditions are not only beneficial for Bonsai growers but also gardening activities. Lastly, I think its worth to visit South Korea, I have never regretted this unique experience to explore Korea from a different perspective. I would not necessarily go by tour groups which might not show you these hidden treasures.

korean hanok house, plants houses and ecosystem are perfect match in korea

A typical entrance of a hanok house in geonju korea

Traditional hanok house and walls, the typical entrance of an old facitly in geonju south korea. The lanterns and the trees in front of hanok house are impressive.

Traditional hanok house comes in all forms and shapes. This one is from geonju, its surrounded by lush vegetation, walls, lanterns which gives the perfect ambience in south korea

Hanok walls and wodden entrance in south korea geonju

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The Complete Book of Bonsai --> I've been into bonsai for 25 years and this is the basic Bible for beginner and intermediate bonsai enthusiasts. It has an excellent section on techniques, including pruning, wiring and whatnot, and it has a large species-specific tree guide. If you're into bonsai and want only one book, this is it.

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai --> In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai, but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation.

Bonsai Survival Manual --> Problem solving when your Bonsai get sick. Expand your gardening repertoire as you create a captivating and exquisite miniature world. In this introductory guide, Colin Lewis covers everything you need to know to design, grow, and successfully maintain attractive bonsai.

Bonsai and the art of Penjing --> Bonsai & Penjing, Ambassadors of Beauty and Peace describes how Chinese penjing and North American bonsai were later added to the Museum, making its collection the most comprehensive in the world. Stories of individual trees and forest plantings are featured, as are the roles played by the skilled and talented creators of these living art forms people such as John Naka, Saburo Kato, Yuji Yoshimura, Harry Hirao, and Dr. Yee-Sun Wu.

The Modern Bonsai Practice --> The most current, useful information on growing Bonsai. Fresh, practical, definitive, comprehensive reference guide to the finest art of horticulture: growing miniature trees. Common sense bonsai answers separating myth from fact with depth and detail. Appropriate for both bonsai hobbyists and experienced practitioners.

The little bonsai

Growing and Caring for Bonsai Trees

The Art of Penjing 樹木盆景

The Harmony of Feng Shui & Bonsai

What Is Feng Shui?

An Introduction To Feng Shui’s Guidelines

Bonsai in Korea