Artistry

In order to attain the desired combination of the three forces of shin-zen-bi (truth-essence-beauty), a number of factors can be of assistance. First is the type of plant selected. Traditional bonsai uses juniper, maple or pine, but many other coniferous or deciduous plants can be equally effective. Examples of some species are plum, azalea, bamboo, beech and camellia.

Second, although a bonsai tree does not necessarily have to be old, it should at least look the part. There are certain techniques available for this purpose. Jin and Sharimiki are two examples, and they entail removing some of the tree’s bark and carving the exposed wood underneath to give the effect of age and of damage suffered years ago. Another essential tool when working with bonsai is wire, which allows one to set the position of a plant’s branches by wiring them down in a manner that replicates an old tree.

The artistry of bonsai calls for a tree with a well-tapered trunk, as well as branches around its entire circumference for visual depth. Leaving the lower part of the trunk visible shows off the tree’s strength. Also, to help increase the tree’s vitality, repotting and root pruning should be performed every few years, depending on its age.