Bonsai Aesthetics

[ad_left]
The fundamental principles of bonsai art spring from a combination of influences, chiefly those of Taoism and Zen Buddhism and the Japanese concepts of wabi and sabi. Wabi could be described as the perfect imperfection that results in beauty. Sabi connotes beauty that can only be achieved through age.

The aesthetic principles of these philosophies embrace the concepts of simplicity, harmony and serenity. Vastly oversimplified, these are the ideals of bonsai, and what practitioners of this art strive to express. The Bonsai Aestheticsconcepts of wabi and sabi are most closely followed in the Japanese culture, though other variations and approaches are applied in other cultures around the world.

The guidelines for bonsai growers have been established over centuries, and in the truest form of the art these guidelines are strictly adhered to within the context of each individual’s personal insights. Successful results may be achieved with different interpretations, but the basic rules of design are vital to the creation of true Japanese bonsai.
[ad_right]
The simplest (and certainly not all-encompassing) explanation of the bonsai ideal is this: growing a replication of an old, mature tree in a small container, which means it will be a miniature version of the ‘real’ thing.

The ultimate effect should be one of maturity and natural wear and tear, but heightened and proscribed in each specific detail. This is where the art of the bonsai grower comes into play, using careful and thoughtful manipulation of natural growth to create a design that is complete in itself, and conveys to the viewer a sense of ‘perfect imperfection’.

A carefully designed bonsai in progress will have a distinct ‘front’ from which it should be viewed, so that from another perspective the same tree may show unsightly aspects. The manipulations taking place in order to shape the tree into the perfect bonsai must be hidden or disguised until they have been completely assimilated. In addition, any wire or other aids the grower uses must leave no discernable traces when they have fulfilled their purpose and are