Bonsai History
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There are several references to plants
being kept in pots in Egypt and India in
ancient times, these were kept for
decorative and medicinal reasons. The
first reference to what we now call
Bonsai was in China during the Tang
Dynasty (618- 907), where they created
miniature landscapes and trees that they
called Penjing, which literally
translated means tray scenery.
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One Chinese legend contends that it was
in the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD)
that an emperor created a landscape in
his courtyard complete with hills,
valleys, rivers, lakes and trees that
represented his entire empire. He
created the landscape so that he could
gaze upon his entire empire from his
palace window. This landscape form of
art was his alone to possess. It was
said that anyone else found in
possession of even a miniature landscape
was seen as threat to his empire and put
to death. |
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The earliest documented proof of bonsai
was discovered in the tomb of Prince
Zhang Huai, who died in 706 during the
Tang Dynasty. Two wall paintings
discovered in the tomb show servants
carrying plants resembling bonsai. In
one of the paintings a servant is seen
carrying a miniature landscape and in
the other painting a servant is shown
carrying a pot containing a tree. |
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Penjing in China enjoyed vigorous
artistic development during the Song
Dynasty (960-1279) and by the early
years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),
the art had become very popular, and the
first manuals appeared. With increasing
popularity, more commercial,
folkloristic, and regionally diverse
streams of Penjing sprang up alongside
the more sophisticated, artistic forms.
In addition to aesthetically refined
Penjing, one could find trees whose
trunks had been coiled to represent
dragons and animals, or whose canopies
depicted layers of clouds, or trees
shaped to resemble the strokes of
fortuitous characters. |
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The art of creating miniature
trees probably reached Japan
during the Heian
period(794-1191), during this
time Japan sent envoys to China
to study arts, architecture,
language, literature, law and
Buddhism. In so doing the
Japanese imported Chinese
culture and arts on a large
scale. Called Bonsai (tree in a
pot or tray) in Japan, this art
form was initially limited to
the elite noble class and did
not start to become popular
until the Muromachi era in the
14th century, jointly prospering
with the green tea ceremony to
become part of Japanese culture
By the Edo era in the 16th
century, every citizen of every
class, from the Daimyo (feudal
lord) to the merchants, wouldn't
hesitate at a chance to enjoy
Bonsai together, and several
competitions for potters were
held. During this period the
Japanese developed a passion for
growing plants and gardens and
in this period Bonsai styles
appear on prints and
illustrations along with life's
events and landscapes. It is
regarded that the Japanese
Bonsai arts reached their peak
by the 18th century, and were
regarded very highly. |
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The Japanese went to great lengths to
refine the art of Bonsai and a lot of
credit must go to these early masters,
the refinements that they developed have
made Bonsai what it is today, and some
consider that the finest Bonsai are
still being developed in Japan |
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While it is almost certain that Western
man had in some small way been exposed
to Bonsai even as early as the 16th
Century by sea traders and missionaries,
the earliest Bonsai to come to the west
came from Japan and China. The showing
of Bonsai at Paris exhibitions in 1878,
1889, 1900 and the first major Bonsai
exhibition held in London in 1909
increased western interest in Bonsai. In
the late 1800's at least 2 Japanese
nurseries had operations in America and
a catalog from the S.M. Japanese Nursery
Company from 1904 indicates that over
six hundred plants were auctioned off
over a three day period in New York
City. In these early years many
westerners felt that the trees looked
tortured and many openly voiced their
displeasure in the way the trees were
being treated by Bonsai masters. It
wasn't until 1935 that opinions changed
and Bonsai was finally classified as an
art in the west. |
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With the end of World War II, Bonsai
started to gain in popularity in the
west with soldiers returning from Japan
with bonsai in tow sparking western
interest in the art. The large
Japanese-American population was
invaluable to Americans in this respect.
Their knowledge in the art of bonsai was
of great interest to many Americans
learning the art. Today, bonsai are sold
in department stores, garden centers,
nurseries and many others places.
However, most of these are young
cuttings and not the true Bonsai
produced by Bonsai masters. Most trees
purchased today are known as pre-bonsai
and are for the most part are only used
as a starting point. Good quality Bonsai
take many years to grow and develop and
may sometimes be bought from specialist
nurseries or private collections. |
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