| HISTORY OF BONSAI Bonsai first appeared in China long back on a very small scale with the name pun-sai where one type of plant was grown in a single container. The basic idea came from the landscape of the imagination and images of fiery dragons and coiled serpents. The animal like trunks and root formation is till date the most highly paid Bonsai art form. With Japan’s adopting a lot of Chinese art form – BONSAI was no exception. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333) of Zen Buddhism bonsai was introduced in Japan. Japanese art and technique of dwarfing trees is called BONSAI. In Japanese BON mean SHALLOW and SAI means a PLANT. Over a period of time the bonsai art form was not limited to only Buddhist monasteries but it became a symbol of honour and prestige. Thus the ideas behind it also changed, for the Japanese. It grew on to become a form which represents a harmony between man, the soul and nature. In an ancient Japanese Bonsai means, " To appreciate and find pleasure in curiously curved potted trees is to love deformity." It is up to an individual to take it in a positive or negative perspective. Bonsai were brought indoors for display at a special occasion and it ended up becoming an important part of Japanese life-they were no longer limited to outdoors. In the 17th and 18th century the bonsai art became one of the most preferred art amongst other Japanese arts. New methodologies were developed for the same. In Japan today, bonsai are symbolized for their ideals and culture. It is no longer considered as a high-class accessory but is a art form enjoyed even by a working class. From Japan now bonsai has spread throughout the world constantly adopting new changes and advanced techniques. With adequate information about the history of bonsai, before we actually learn the techniques of this widely accepted art form let us quickly look into its status in India. Today it is considered as a very well paid hobby, which fetches good returns just by sitting at home. Isn't this what most of us looking for? |
