BONSAI DJOGJA

SHORT INTRODUCTION TO BONSAI Bonsai is the oriental art of creating minature versions of nature's wondrous trees.it is the reproduction,on small scale,not only of dwarf trees of the mountains but also of the giant trees of the forests.in ancient China naturally dwarf trees were collected from mountainous areas and revered throughout the country.

The trees were potted in beautiful ,highly decorated containers and enjoyed as artistic pot plans.as they were then called.It is thought that little else was done to the trees to keep them alive other than attending to their basic horticultural needs.These artistic pot plants were kept behind palace wall for the ruling classes.

Over the centuries much of China's culture was sent to Japan.The Japanese absorbed and refined this culture,which included elements of religion,gobernment,architecture and the artistic pot plants that where sent to japan as gifts for aristocracy.This plan might have remained behind palace wall had not Chinese monk introduced them to the public as they tough Zen Buddism to the common people.The miniature tress were ideal teacher of philosophical principles concerning the harmony of nature,man's palace place in universe and harmonisous blending of heaven,earth and man.

From this beginning ,Bonsai emerged as horticultural art from we practice and study today.

Sapu-sapu (Tamarix sp)

In the pat,as now,the primary concern was keep the tress alive and healty after they were root pruned and planted in shallow pots.The development of tree design and style would evolved slowly,but from early on,the tress that were used were small and young and the artistic goal was create the ilution of and old tree with strength and character.

Langetronia Indica

Oriental philosophi and religion taught that the world was ordered yet asymmetrical.The concept of heaven,eart and man,fitting within a triagle brought peace and harmony to daily life.

This concept formed the basis for many art forms,including Bonsai.Nature's work was not to be copied exactly but to be reproduced in miniature.Unlike nature,man does not create big trees,but as in nature,man's work on his created tree is never complete.Each tree,whether tiny or large is a unique creation ever changing.