| Term
|
Definition |
| Bonsai |
From the Japanese words, "bon" and "sai" meaning "pot"
and "plant." Bonsai, however is much more than simply
a pot in a plant. There are numerous styles of bonsai,
all which have different criteria for evaluation.
The goal of bonsai is to create the appearance of
great size and age. This is accomplished by create
a bonsai with strong rootage (nebari) that extends
in all directions, creating a sense of stability,
a large trunk which tapers as it goes upward, a clear
apex, and well formed and well placed branches. These
features all combine to create a careful blend of
symmetry, balance and proportion. It also must be
displayed in a pot which harmonizes well with the
plant material. |
|
| Bunjin (Bunjingi) |
Also known as "literati". This style of bonsai is generally
unconventional, often breaking well established
rules. With uncharacteristically thin, often wildly
bent, contorted trunks and sparse foliage, these
tree give the appearance of having suffered greatly
in their environment, yet found a away to survive.
Many times the tree has approximately
two thirds of its trunk without any branches growing
to illustrate age and maturity.
The style's name refers to an artistic movement
(The Southern School of Chinese Landscape Painting)
which was carefree and unconventional. It was their
"search for freedom" which, as John Naka, explains
was "portrayed in the trees of their magnificent
landscape paintings" that gave rise to the inspiration
for the bunjin style. These trees are characterized
by their dynamism, artistry and sense of playfulness
and freedom. One of the basic styles.
|
|
| Cascade Style |
See: Kengai |
|
| Chokkan |
The "formal upright" bonsai style. One of the basic
styles. Essential for this style is a straight trunk
with a naturally balanced symmetrical branch structure.
|
|
| Dai ki (Oya ki) |
The
parent plant. Parent tree. |
|
| Formal Upright style |
See: Chokkan |
|
| Gi sei shi (GI sei eda) |
A branch left to grow only to promote the overall growth
of the tree before being transformed into a bonsai.
Also called "Sacrifice branch". |
|
| Gokan |
The "five-trunk" bonsai style. |
|
| Fukinagashi |
The "Windswept" bonsai style. A bonsai tree which gives
the appearance of being exposed to harsh winds for
prolonged periods, causing foliage to form in a windswept
pattern. One of the basic styles. |
|
| Han kengai |
The "Semi-cascade"
bonsai style. Simulates a tree
subject to harsh winds, where the branches and trunk
of a tree are swept to one side but not fully weeping.
Similar to, but not as dramatic as the Cascade
Style, with the lowest
extended branch first growing horizontal and then
cascading down at a slight angle. One of the basic
styles. |
|
| Hoki dachi |
A "broom" style of bonsai. Usually featuring
a very straight trunk with symmetrical
branches that fan out from the top, forming a broom-like
(semicircular dome)
crown. Frequently seen on Chinese Elm and other finely
branched deciduous trees.
|
|
| Ikada buki |
The "Raft" bonsai style. The plant is planted sideways
with some of the branches showing out of the soil.
These branches are arranged
in a group formation and trained vertically. They
become the future trees. Special form of the Yosu-Ue (wood)
style. |
|
| Informal
Upright Style |
See: Moyogi
|
|
| Ishi
tsuki (ishi duke) |
Bonsai which are trained to cling to a rock as part of
their styling. The "Root on Rock", "Clinging
to a Rock" or "Rock Grown" bonsai style. Composition
style.
|
|
| Kabudachi
|
The "Clump" bonsai
style. More crowded in appearance than a group planting
as the trunks all grow from the same point on the
root mass.
|
|
| Kengai (Ken gai ju kei) |
The "Cascade" bonsai style. This style resembles a waterfall
or cascade and simulates a tree
on the edge of a cliff subjected to violent winds. These tree have both an apex and crown on top and a
long flowing branch which descends below the base
of the trunk. One of the basic styles.
|
|
| Literati Style |
See: Bunjin |
|
| Moyogi |
The
"Informal Upright" bonsai style. Similar to the
formal upright style, but the trunk curves and twists
through its taper up to and sometimes through the
branches. Branch placement is often on the outside
of the curves; and the top of the trunk, instead
of growing straight, bends slightly to the front.
One of the basic styles.
|
|
| Neagari (Ne-Agari) |
The "Exposed Root" bonsai style. Bonsai where the roots
are long and visible, found often on tropical and
subtropical bonsai. |
|
| Nejikan |
The "Twisted trunk" bonsai style. |
|
| Ne
Tsunagari |
The "Connected root" bonsai style. |
|
| Raft Style |
See: Ikada buki |
|
| Sankan |
The "triple trunk" bonsai style. |
|
Semi-cascade Style |
See: Han kengai |
|
| Sekijoju |
The
"tree planted on rock" bonsai style. Tree is planted
on a well formed rock (simulating mountain, slope,
etc.). Tree which has roots arranged so they grow
over the rock and into the container. |
|
| Shakkan |
The "Slanting" bonsai style. Shakkan style can be considered
the intermediate stadium between the informal upright
and cascade styles as the tree
still grows up, but tends to slant over. One of the
basic styles. |
|
| Sharimiki |
The "Driftwood" bonsai style. |
|
| Shidare-Zukuri |
The "Weeping branches" bonsai style. |
|
| Sokan (Sou kan) |
The "Twin trunk" bonsai style. Bonsai style in which
the tree has a double trunk. |
|
| Suiseki |
Rocky landscape set up on sui ban (pot without water
drainage hole). Stones used in a
Bonsai display to represent large boulders or mountains. |
|
| Taka ue |
Planting the tree at a soil level that is higher than
the rim of the pot. |
|
| Tankan |
The "Single trunk" bonsai style. |
|
| Three Points |
Most bonsai styles and shapes are related to the idea
of the triangle. The three points of the triangle
represent "Heaven," "Earth," and "Humanity."
The goal of such arrangement is to have, as Yuji Yoshimura
describes it, the "three points form a triangle with
Heaven (the top of the tree) as an apex and Earth
(the point nearest the ground) forming the most acute
of the three angles." |
|
| Tsukami yose |
Clustered bonsai style. Many seedlings placed with roots
intertwined which will fuse together and appear as
a single multi-trunk tree or group. |
|
| Windswept Style |
See: Fukinagashi |
|
| Yose Uye |
The "Wood or Group/Forest" bonsai style. Bonsai planted in the style of a forest
or "wood". Group planting composition style.
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