Bonsai Styling – About Bonsai Basic Styling
Bonsai, as a Japanese art form, is more regulated than it’s Chinese counterpart, the penjing. Bonsai attempts to achieve the ideal tree, while penjing attempts to reproduce nature. This is why perfect styling exists in bonsai if you obey the ‘rules’, while penjing leave you free to your creation. As a result these are the basic styles :
Broom (Hokidachi or Hoki-zukuri)
A very harmonious style, this form has branches that develop at a certain height, forming an upside broom. This styling is mainly achieved through a technique called the “V” cut. The trunk is chopped where you want the branch to start to develop and then a deep V cut is performed on the remaining trunk. This will induce buds to break near the cut. Zelkova serrata are notorious for this styling but maple and other deciduous species can easily be styled that way.
Formal Upright (Chokkan)
A tree styled the “chokkan” way has a straight trunk tapering graciously from bottom to top. The first and biggest branch is often situated at 1/3 of the desired height of the tree and is on the right or the left. The following branch is situated on the opposite side, while the third is in the back creating the perception depth. As we look at the branch structure from bottom to top, the branches are getting thinner, creating a pyramidal shape.
Informal Upright (Moyogi)
This style is very similar to the previously mentionned style as the same rules of design apply, however, the trunk is not straight but rather forms a sinuous shape while remaining tapered. This style is commonly used with conifers.
Slanting (Shakan)
Once again, this style is the same as the formal upright except that the trunk is leaning on one side. Branches are grown uniformly on the trunk like the formal/informal upright styles but the apex is tilted to the opposite side of the trunk giving a visual balanced effect.
Cascade (Kengai)
This styling requires an inclined trunk that is preferably at a 45 degree angle. The major portion of the foliage is below the pot line and sometimes goes beyond the pot itself. It often represents a tree growing on the side of cliff. A deep pot is used for this style.
Semi-cascade (Han-Kengai)
Similar to the Kengai style, this style also has an inclinated trunk. However, the foliage remains at the height of the pot line. In nature, we can see this style near a waterway, the foliage having grown on the side and leaning towards the water. While the cascade style uses a deeper pot, this style uses a medium depth pot.
Windswept (Fukinagashi)
A “windswept” tree represents a tree that has been growing in a certain shape due to natural elements . Often caused by strong wind, the trunk is always inclinated in a certain direction and all branches have grown on the same side.
Literati (Bunjin)
This styling is often represented in Japanese paintings. It is a tree with a tall and sinuous trunk. The foliage only grows near the summit of the tree. This styling is somewhat an exception to the rigorous rules of bonsai because it does not have specific rules. It represents what the bunjin movement is in Japan: the search for liberty.
Group/Forest (Yose-ue)
This styling often represents a forest or a small cluster of trees. It is supposed to be styled in a way that will clearly represent the growing habits of trees in a group. Many techinques can be used to achieve this styling and many perception techniques are used to create the illusion of a forest, or as Naka would say, “having the quality of the invisible beauty of nature”. To respect the Japanese art form, an odd number of trees is prefered for this styling.
Raft (Ikadabuki)
The same rules of the group planting apply to this style. However, all of the trunks emerge from one common trunk. This technique is often achieved with a branch placed verticaly in the soil. The roots form this branch and the upper part of the vertical branch develop secondary branches that will eventually become the trunks.
Multi-trunk Style (Sokan – Sankan)
This multi-trunk style has different possibilities. The first, which is called “Sokan”, consists of two trunks emerging from the same visible roots (nebari). The styling of the upper part of the tree must respect the same rules as the formal / informal upright styles previously described. Another variance consists of the same but with three trunks emerging from the visible roots. This is called “Sankan”. You can also have more than three trunks but to respect Japanese bonsai, it is prefered to have an odd number of trunks.
Roots Over Rock (Ishitsuki)
This styling has the specific charactreristics of having many visible roots growing over a rock and finding their way to the pot/soil.
We hope this as been an informative experience from you.
Patrick from Misho Bonsai seeds
About the Author:
Avid full time hobby bonsai grower. As been practicing bonsai and gardening for more then 8 years. Owner of http://www.mishobonsai.com, a website with resource for Bonsai seeds and tree seeds.
Tag: Bonsai Styling
[tag]Bonsai Styling, Bonsai Tree[/tag]
May 18th, 2017 at 8:11 am
I am glad for writing to let you be aware of what a really good encounter our daughter developed studying your blog. She even learned a lot of pieces, most notably what it is like to have an ideal giving mindset to have the rest easily know precisely specific tortuous topics. You undoubtedly exceeded our own expectations. Thank you for rendering these warm and helpful, dependable, revealing not to mention easy thoughts on your topic to Jane.
May 18th, 2017 at 10:59 pm
A lot of thanks for each of your hard work on this blog. My mom loves participating in investigation and it’s simple to grasp why. My partner and i hear all about the compelling mode you offer both useful and interesting tips and tricks on this web blog and as well as boost contribution from some other people on this content plus my child is now understanding a whole lot. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year. Your conducting a tremendous job.
May 20th, 2017 at 8:26 am
I intended to write you a very small remark to say thanks a lot once again for your remarkable methods you have shown at this time. It has been quite shockingly open-handed with you to supply publicly what most people would’ve distributed for an e-book in order to make some money on their own, mostly considering the fact that you could possibly have tried it in the event you considered necessary. The suggestions additionally served to become a fantastic way to fully grasp the rest have the identical desire like mine to understand a good deal more when it comes to this problem. I am sure there are millions of more pleasurable opportunities ahead for individuals who go through your site.
May 21st, 2017 at 4:15 am
Would you be occupied with exchanging links?
May 22nd, 2017 at 4:49 am
I needed to write you one very small remark to be able to thank you so much as before for your personal marvelous ideas you have discussed on this site. It has been quite shockingly open-handed with people like you to provide unreservedly precisely what a few individuals would’ve marketed for an ebook to help with making some dough on their own, and in particular considering the fact that you might well have done it in case you decided. These suggestions likewise served to be a great way to realize that other individuals have a similar passion like mine to see lots more with reference to this matter. I am certain there are thousands of more pleasurable opportunities in the future for folks who discover your blog.
May 25th, 2017 at 7:19 am
I wanted to make a remark to appreciate you for some of the great tips you are giving on this website. My long internet research has at the end been honored with sensible facts and strategies to exchange with my family and friends. I would assume that many of us website visitors are undeniably blessed to live in a fine place with very many outstanding people with insightful secrets. I feel very fortunate to have encountered your webpage and look forward to plenty of more entertaining times reading here. Thank you once more for everything.