History Of Bonsai Trees In Japan

The trees require two to twenty years of masterful cultivation to achieve the correct look.
History of bonsai trees in japan. Although the word bon sai is japanese the art it describes originated in the chinese empire. Bonsai is a japanese art form using trees grown in containers. By the year 700 ad the chinese had started the art of pun sai using special techniques to grow dwarf trees in containers. The earliest mention of tree cultivation in japan occurred about the year 970 and the earliest visual depiction of bonsai was in a scroll dating from the 12th or 13th century.
The earliest bonsai to come to the west came mostly from japan and china. The term bonsai itself is a japanese pronunciation of the earlier chinese term penzai. This article focuses on the history of bonsai in japan. The word bonsai is often used in english as an umbrella term for all miniature trees in containers or pots.
The art of bonsai was spread by buddhist monks who wished to bring the outdoors inside their temples. The tradition involves a bonsai master that cuts and shapes the leaves of bonsai. Also during this time under the rule of the hang dynasty chinese monks migrated to japan and. The japanese became fascinated by them and began to develop their own techniques for growing and shaping the trees eventually renaming them bonsai trees.
History of bonsai trees introduction to japan. By the end of the 18th century bonsai cultivation in japan was becoming widespread and began to interest the general public. In the tenmei era 1781 88 an exhibit of traditional dwarf potted pines began to be held every year in kyoto. By the year 700 ad the chinese had started the art of pun sai using special techniques to grow dwarf trees in containers.
During the tokugawa shogunate 1603 1868 collecting a yamadori or natural dwarf tree from the mountains and containerizing it became part of the samurai tradition. Bonsai is the japanese art and tradition of keeping trees in miniature sizes. History and origin of bonsai. The showing of bonsai at the third universal exhibition in paris in 1878 and later exhibitions in 1889 and 1900 increased western interest in bonsai and opened the door for the first major bonsai exhibit held in london in 1909.
When chinese monks began to migrate to japan the trees went with them. The trees which stood approximately one to two feet in height required two to twenty years. History of bonsai although the word bon sai is japanese the art it describes originated in the chinese empire. Originally only the elite of the society practiced pun tsai with native collected specimens and the trees where spread throughout china as luxurious gifts.