Morgan and I have always looked at bonsai trees with great interest and beauty. Yesterday, we finally decided to purchase one for Morgan's office. Bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh) is the ancient Asian art of growing and cultivating miniature trees. This art form originated in China over a thousand years ago. Most likely, the Buddhist monks were the first to bring various types of miniature trees to Japan.The Japanese then spent centuries developing the dwarfing of trees until it became known as the unique art form of bonsai. Over time, the simple trees were not just confined to the Buddhist monks and their monasteries, but also later were introduced to be representative of the aristocracy - a symbol of prestige and honour. The ideals and philosophy of bonsai were greatly changed over the years. For the Japanese, bonsai represents a fusion of strong ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of the harmony between man, the soul and nature.
The bonsai today is no longer reserved for the upper class. It is considered to be a very unique piece of art work which cannot be compared with any other types of art form. In fact, it is said that bonsai is 90% art and 10% horticulture. Because bonsai is a living tree, it can never be a finished work of art. It will always be a living piece of nature, being passed down from generation to generation, continuing to live and grow for hundreds of years.
The average bonsai tree ranges in height from a couple of inches to one meter. We love the simple beauty and peace we feel from these artful trees. Here is a picture of ours. It is 8 to 9 years old and of the Japanese Juniper variety. Similar to what we're experiencing while waiting for our girls, the art of bonsai requires commitment, a great amount of time, patience, skill and endurance. And much like our children, we look forward to the tending.
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