1.
Chokkan Style (Formal
upright)
This is a most complex style with very specific rules for branch placement, pot selection and such. It is NOT a style for beginners, and even experienced artists approach this one with caution. Some of the sub-categories of uprights include:
This is a most complex style with very specific rules for branch placement, pot selection and such. It is NOT a style for beginners, and even experienced artists approach this one with caution. Some of the sub-categories of uprights include:
Tachiki - (Informal upright, the style I feel
suits most beginners)
Hokidachi - (Broom Style)
Sabamiki - (Split Trunk)
Saramiki - (exposed trunk, the bark is MOSTLY
stripped off)
Sekijôju - (Root over Rock; the plant is grown
over a rock and into the soil of a pot)
Ishitsuki - (planted in crevices in a rock)
Neagari - (exposed root, like a mangrove)
2.
Shakan Style (Slanting
Style)
This style is fairly common and not too esoteric for the budding enthusiast. Some other similar styles include Bunjingi or Literati Style (a few branches at the top of a long slanted trunk, usually in a small, shallow pot), and Fukinagashi Style (Windswept Style, with all the branches coming off one side of the trunk).
This style is fairly common and not too esoteric for the budding enthusiast. Some other similar styles include Bunjingi or Literati Style (a few branches at the top of a long slanted trunk, usually in a small, shallow pot), and Fukinagashi Style (Windswept Style, with all the branches coming off one side of the trunk).
3.
Kengai Style
The Cascade Style is easily recognized as the trunk dips below the bottom of the pot. Two other styles that are offshoots are Dai Kengai, the formal cascade, where the first branch plunges down below the bottom of the pot, but the rest of the branching proceeds as a Formal upright, and Han Kengai, or Semi-cascade, where the trunk descends below the rim of the pot, often in a windswept style.
The Cascade Style is easily recognized as the trunk dips below the bottom of the pot. Two other styles that are offshoots are Dai Kengai, the formal cascade, where the first branch plunges down below the bottom of the pot, but the rest of the branching proceeds as a Formal upright, and Han Kengai, or Semi-cascade, where the trunk descends below the rim of the pot, often in a windswept style.
4.
Bankan Style
The Twisted Style is probably closest to what came over from China; the Chinese are very fond of this style and often refer to them as “dragon” trees (In Feng Shui, the Green Dragon is an auspicious presence in the garden) especially in the East). The tree coils around itself like a Chinese dragon The secondary styles for this one include Nejikan, or partially twisted style where the trunk does not make a complete turn on itself, and the little seen Takzukuri Style, or Octopus, where even the branching is twisted on itself from a very distorted trunk
The Twisted Style is probably closest to what came over from China; the Chinese are very fond of this style and often refer to them as “dragon” trees (In Feng Shui, the Green Dragon is an auspicious presence in the garden) especially in the East). The tree coils around itself like a Chinese dragon The secondary styles for this one include Nejikan, or partially twisted style where the trunk does not make a complete turn on itself, and the little seen Takzukuri Style, or Octopus, where even the branching is twisted on itself from a very distorted trunk
In the multiple trunks styles there are styles that incorporate two or more plants in one pot; these include…
1.
Soju Style
Two Trunks Style is usually used in the Wedded configuration with one trunk subservient to the other. An adjunct of Two Trunks is Sôkan Style, or double trunk, where one trunk splits just above the soil line and the two branches are treated as separate trees.
Two Trunks Style is usually used in the Wedded configuration with one trunk subservient to the other. An adjunct of Two Trunks is Sôkan Style, or double trunk, where one trunk splits just above the soil line and the two branches are treated as separate trees.
2.
Yôse Style
Group plantings are denoted by how many trunks are in the planting. Sambon-Yôse (3 trunks), Gohon-Yôse (5), Nanahon-Yôse (7) and Kyuhon-Yôse (9) are the usual groupings. These groups are all done with roughly the same caliper plants Yôse-Ue Style is any group with more than nine trunks; Yomayose Style is a naturalistic grouping with different calipers and heights of trees. All these different styles have a corresponding Kabudachi style, where the different trunks all spring from a single root, and a Tsukami-Yôse style, where the different trunks all spring from the middle of the pot.
Group plantings are denoted by how many trunks are in the planting. Sambon-Yôse (3 trunks), Gohon-Yôse (5), Nanahon-Yôse (7) and Kyuhon-Yôse (9) are the usual groupings. These groups are all done with roughly the same caliper plants Yôse-Ue Style is any group with more than nine trunks; Yomayose Style is a naturalistic grouping with different calipers and heights of trees. All these different styles have a corresponding Kabudachi style, where the different trunks all spring from a single root, and a Tsukami-Yôse style, where the different trunks all spring from the middle of the pot.
3.
Kôrabuki Style
Raft Style copies that tree we’ve all seen that has fallen over and the branches on one side have all grown as individual trees. In this first style the trunk rest partially below the soil level. The Ikadabuki, or Straight Line Style keeps the trunk (at least the middle) wholly out of the soil and straight, as the name suggests. Netsunagari Style is the Sinuous Style where the root twists and winds through the pot and the trunks are more twisted.
Raft Style copies that tree we’ve all seen that has fallen over and the branches on one side have all grown as individual trees. In this first style the trunk rest partially below the soil level. The Ikadabuki, or Straight Line Style keeps the trunk (at least the middle) wholly out of the soil and straight, as the name suggests. Netsunagari Style is the Sinuous Style where the root twists and winds through the pot and the trunks are more twisted.
Other Bonsai
groups
There are some other groups we
should touch on as they are often seen in conjunction with displayed
bonsai.
1.
Bonkei
Bonkei, or landscape trays, often include a small pruned tree, along with rock, mosses, grass and other perennials, water and little figurines. The Chinese still like the occasional figure or under-planting with their pen tsai, but the Japanese frown on it and relegate it to it’s own slot, a decidedly lower slot than bonsai (If you brought a tree to a judged show with a figure in it, they won’t throw you out, but you lose BIG points. And that’s internationally in the bonsai world…)
Bonkei, or landscape trays, often include a small pruned tree, along with rock, mosses, grass and other perennials, water and little figurines. The Chinese still like the occasional figure or under-planting with their pen tsai, but the Japanese frown on it and relegate it to it’s own slot, a decidedly lower slot than bonsai (If you brought a tree to a judged show with a figure in it, they won’t throw you out, but you lose BIG points. And that’s internationally in the bonsai world…)
2.
Kusamomo
Kusamomo plantings are small tray plantings of grass or bulbs used as a compliment to bonsai displays.
Kusamomo plantings are small tray plantings of grass or bulbs used as a compliment to bonsai displays.
3.
Suiseki
Suiseki are miniature mountains, displayed on beautifully carved wooden stands called daiza. Rocks are selected for their appearance as a mountain, hill, a hut, island or even an animal. One cut is allowed to give a flat side to rest upon, and the daiza is custom fit to the stone. More cuts or polishing the stone demotes it to biseki, or pretty stones, with the same loss of prestige that bonkei suffer. These are not bonsai, but can definitely add to your enjoyment of the real thing. And that's the key to Bonsai, to enjoy.
Photo Credit - http://www.bonsaiempire.com
Suiseki are miniature mountains, displayed on beautifully carved wooden stands called daiza. Rocks are selected for their appearance as a mountain, hill, a hut, island or even an animal. One cut is allowed to give a flat side to rest upon, and the daiza is custom fit to the stone. More cuts or polishing the stone demotes it to biseki, or pretty stones, with the same loss of prestige that bonkei suffer. These are not bonsai, but can definitely add to your enjoyment of the real thing. And that's the key to Bonsai, to enjoy.
