Bonsai: a Microcosm of the Japanese Character
Bonsai: A Microcosm of the Japanese Character Bonsai basically means “a plant growing in a container” (Norman 8). Nevertheless, it’s not just a mere potted plant as it is concerned with growing miniature-scale forms of mature trees. Furthermore, the various developments it has undergone and is still going through as well as the forms it takes on are reflective of the Japanese character.
The history of bonsai traces its roots back to China where it was originally known as penjing (Norman 10) or pun-sai (Olsen, “Bonsai Tree Meaning”). Usually, these earlier versions of potted plants were naturally stunted, weather-beaten and had little foliage (Olsen, “Bonsai Tree Meaning”).
It was during the Chin dynasty in China while Kamakura period in Japan when cultural exchange became eminent between the two countries especially with the introduction of Buddhism from Korea (Norman 10). It was Buddhist monks who brought Bonsai to Japan as it was initially utilized for ceremonial purposes (Hubik, “A Detailed History of Bonsai”; Norman 10; Olsen, “Bonsai Tree Meaning”).
The activity of growing bonsai, especially the ideals and the philosophy which it hopes to encapsulate, has evolved greatly since it came to Japan. In its early stages, bonsai plants, with their less than aesthetically appealing form, were thought of as aberrations in nature while some contended that they were manifestations of positive things like harmony and peace despite its deformity (Hubik, “A Detailed History of Bonsai”; Olsen. “Bonsai Tree Meaning”).
In fact, it is written in an ancient Japanese scroll from the Kamakura period that the deformity of bonsai is the actual root of appreciation and pleasure in bonsai-growing (Hubik, “A Detailed History of Bonsai”). With this in mind, it was inferred that the elites of Japanese society held bonsai-growing as an ordinary activity (Hubik, “A Detailed History of Bonsai”; Olsen, “Bonsai Tree Meaning”). Thereafter, engaging oneself with
The history of bonsai traces its roots back to China where it was originally known as penjing (Norman 10) or pun-sai (Olsen, “Bonsai Tree Meaning”). Usually, these earlier versions of potted plants were naturally stunted, weather-beaten and had little foliage (Olsen, “Bonsai Tree Meaning”).
It was during the Chin dynasty in China while Kamakura period in Japan when cultural exchange became eminent between the two countries especially with the introduction of Buddhism from Korea (Norman 10). It was Buddhist monks who brought Bonsai to Japan as it was initially utilized for ceremonial purposes (Hubik, “A Detailed History of Bonsai”; Norman 10; Olsen, “Bonsai Tree Meaning”).
The activity of growing bonsai, especially the ideals and the philosophy which it hopes to encapsulate, has evolved greatly since it came to Japan. In its early stages, bonsai plants, with their less than aesthetically appealing form, were thought of as aberrations in nature while some contended that they were manifestations of positive things like harmony and peace despite its deformity (Hubik, “A Detailed History of Bonsai”; Olsen. “Bonsai Tree Meaning”).
In fact, it is written in an ancient Japanese scroll from the Kamakura period that the deformity of bonsai is the actual root of appreciation and pleasure in bonsai-growing (Hubik, “A Detailed History of Bonsai”). With this in mind, it was inferred that the elites of Japanese society held bonsai-growing as an ordinary activity (Hubik, “A Detailed History of Bonsai”; Olsen, “Bonsai Tree Meaning”). Thereafter, engaging oneself with
Cited: • BBC.co.uk. “Japanese (discovered by west in 16th century)”. Oct 2007. Web. Dec 15, 2009. • Earhart, H. Byron. “Chapter 1: Introduction. Japanese Religion: Unity and Diversity, 3rd Edition”. California: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1982. • Hubik, Dan. ”A Detailed History of Bonsai”. n.d. Web. Dec 14, 2009. • Nakamura, Hajime. “Some features of the Japanese Way of Thinking”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol 14, pp. 32-72. • Norman, Ken. “The Bonsai Handbook: A complete guide to the selection, cultivation and presentation of miniature trees and shrubs, with a comprehensive plant directory”. London: Southwater, 2006. • Nagatomo, Shigenori. “Japanese Zen Buddhist Philosophy”. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2008 Edition). Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Jun 28, 2006. Web. Dec 15, 2009. . • Olsen, Erik. “Bonsai Tree Meaning”. 2008. Web. Dec 14, 2009. • Olsen, Erik. “Geeks Turning to Bonsai to Combat Stress”. 2008. Web. Dec 14, 2009. < http://www.bonsaigardener.org/bonsai-against-stress.html> • “Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Grow Bonsai”. BonsaiTreePlaza.info.Hawaii. n.d. Web. Dec 18,2009.