| Miniature trees are originally rooted in the | | | | government, who often come to China at the |
| mountains of China, where only a specific | | | | height of the Tang Dynasty and have brought |
| species of plants and trees grow. Because of | | | | the art back home. During the Kamakura |
| its hostile weather conditions, the trees | | | | period, while Zen Buddhism was introduced in |
| were often stunted and contorted. The strong | | | | Japan, these Zen masters also introduced the |
| mountain winds also left these trees twisted | | | | hobby of tree potting to its people. As a |
| in ice and the cold. Essentially, it is | | | | result, it became widely popular among the |
| nature that has rendered the inspiration for | | | | wealthy class (daimyos or feudal lords), the |
| the art of potting trees as students of the | | | | merchants and even the Samurais. In addition |
| art do their best to mimic what nature has | | | | to this, daimyos even sought pottery masters |
| created. By "training" trees through | | | | on their employ, to make one of kind pots for |
| specialized means of pruning and shaping them | | | | their miniature plants. |
| to a desired height and structure, these | | | | |
| students of the art were able to recreate the | | | | Initially popular among the Japanese priests, |
| sample nature has provided. | | | | the ruling class and those on the upper |
| | | | hierarchy, Bonsai eventually reached |
| Bonsai, a Japanese term for "miniature potted | | | | popularity with the middle class. As |
| trees", actually originated from the Chinese. | | | | Japanese culture and their way of living |
| Called "pensai" in China, these miniature | | | | dictates it, where the Japanese have always |
| trees first appeared in artworks and poems in | | | | believed in keeping a harmonious relationship |
| this Asian country in 200 B.C. Early own, | | | | with their surroundings as beneficial, |
| the mini-tree, or rather, the work of art, | | | | miniature gardening became one of Japan's |
| has already become a symbol of harmony and | | | | favorite pastimes. The fact that these potted |
| tranquility. Chinese Monks and the nobles or | | | | trees took up just a small space inside the |
| upper class, who appreciated the beauty and | | | | house was also compatible with how the |
| significance of plants and trees or nature in | | | | Japanese lived. It was during these times |
| general, cultivated mini-landscapes of | | | | too, that the word "bonsai" was coined. |
| mountains, rivers and little tree houses | | | | |
| placed on big plates. Sometime in the 15th or | | | | Today, the art of Bonsai is still practiced |
| 16th century, this artistic hobby grew among | | | | in China. It is characteristically different |
| the people of Southeast China. Many of them | | | | from the Japanese versions as they are |
| have become master designers and experts of | | | | somewhat bigger than the popular Japanese |
| the art of tree potting. What was first known | | | | Bonsai. And while thinking of potted trees, |
| as a hobby for Chinese artists, monks and | | | | one easily attributes this to Japan, the |
| nobles in those days became a significant | | | | hobby/art form appeals not only to the people |
| part of modern day Japanese tradition. | | | | of the East today, but students and |
| | | | enthusiasts all over the world have also |
| How this came to Japan was made possible | | | | become devotees to the art of tree potting. |
| through the officials of the Japanese | | | | |