Bonsai Aesthetics

   A different way of life, traditional art, horticulture, philosophy, and perhaps many other factors have formed the foundation for the development of bonsai as one of the art forms in Japanese culture.
The centuries-old tradition of growing miniature trees in pots exists in China, from where bonsai culture likely originates, and a similar art form also exists in Korea. However, the contemporary aesthetics and popularization of bonsai are undoubtedly linked to the Land of the Rising Sun. Despite the fact that various "variations" have emerged on all continents, everywhere and in everything, the influence of the tradition of Japanese masters is still felt. And in my opinion, the most important thing that the Japanese have created in this culture is not the styles of bonsai.

   For an enthusiast, the primary starting point is a good understanding of bonsai styles. The practical experience accumulated over centuries contains important methods for creating bonsai and an aesthetic orientation. The bonsai styles describe the shape of the tree trunk, the arrangement of the branches and roots, as well as the number of trees in the container, which makes it quite convenient to relate an existing sketch to the future bonsai. Understanding the styles helps a person plan the direction for shaping the future bonsai from the selected seedling. “Standard” styles certainly assist the bonsai enthusiast, but they do not represent a strictly defined direction for achieving the final result. The system of styles is more of a creative aid than a strictly defined form.

   The main goal of bonsai aesthetics is to create a miniature plant with a full, age-appropriate, natural appearance, with proportional details. The enthusiast shapes the plant, emphasizing or enhancing the age it represents. They also create a front “facade,” the side from which the bonsai will be viewed later. However, the same plant may appear unnatural or even unattractive when seen from another angle.
An important factor is maintaining the visual balance of the roots, trunk, and canopy.
Balance is achieved by properly arranging the details of the plant, creating a stable, calm form that gives the effect of a plant standing firmly for decades.. (For example, the styles “Chokanni” and “Moigi”).

Dynamic balance, created through symmetrical forms with unstable and moving effects, creates the impression that the plant is struggling against the elements (for example, the styles of "Han-Kengai", "Kengai", and "Fukinagachi"). When observing an aesthetically valuable bonsai, one may sense physical weight, massiveness, aging, and even a feeling of "pride," similar to how a solitary, ancient tree in nature evokes such feelings in a person.

The desired visual balance is achieved by manipulating the shape of the trunk, branches, and surface roots. The "empty spaces" in the branches are in harmony with the overall form of the bonsai. The emptiness and the branches create a spatial illusion. The balance between the emptiness and branches makes the visual appearance of the bonsai more effective.

The important factor is the proportion between the tree's elements:

• All the main elements are compactly arranged along the tree's trunk.
• There are no disproportionate large needles or leaves.
• There are no thicker branches than the trunk.
• There is no disproportionately large fruit or flower.
• There is no strict symmetry in the arrangement of branches and roots.
• Branches arranged on the sides and back never grow at the same level.
• The second-row branch on the front-facing side is always smaller to ensure the tree's trunk is clearly visible.
• Only moss grows in the container, and no other plants are included.
• If the composition is made with stones, no objects other than soil, stones, and moss should be placed on the surface of the container.

However, at this point, creating bonsai is not an exact science or a mechanism that will only work if every detail is done according to a pre-drawn plan. Several basic principles of bonsai formation may be altered or entirely disregarded without affecting the plant's primary aesthetic (visual effect). Upon closely observing bonsai masterpieces, in many cases, you will certainly find such examples. A specialist working on bonsai formation achieves the result through experience and intuition, not by thinking about rules and regulations.

   If a person decides to work seriously on bonsai, they must first understand what bonsai truly is. They must realize that bonsai is not just a small tree growing in a pot. It is not a computer game that you stop when you're bored and continue when the desire returns. It is not merely a decorative item, even if very beautiful, whose purpose is only to beautify the interior. A bonsai enthusiast must consider that a small plant requires daily attention, and creating a beautiful, "perfected" shape takes a long time.