bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - The Conspiracy To Undermine The Art Of Bonsai

I agree, and I don't see a contradiction here either. I agree to entire article, I have said the same things here and in other places for years. Sometimes I get the impression that people simply do not understand just how old the practice of putting trees in pots and training them for purpose really is, try 2500 BC. In essence what we today call bonsai predates every civilization now existing in the world.

It predates modern Europe, The UK and her offspring. It predates ancient Rome, Greece and most of the Asian cultures past and present. So what's the point? We think our selves a bit presumptious to boast of changing something as time tested as bonsai without considering the artistic merits of such an endeavour. The real underlying truth is something undefinable, something that you just can't seem to put your finger on or find words to define it. The fact is, bonsai has a quality of life beyond any other art form, in that there is something that draws people into it and compels them to want one or make one of their own. It is almost like possessing something from some dream world of a better place and a quiter time.

The Japanese have a word for this quality called Kami. Loosely defined meaning Spirit. In music we would call it Soul, in politics we would call it Charisma. To create bonsai without considering this quality is to create bonsai without its most important element. To determine what this is one has to find it for themselves. Again another appeal of bonsai, the almost mystic esoteric quality that takes on an identity greater than a simple tree in a pot.

10-Jun-2005	#16
Vance Wood bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Sep-2002 Location: Roseville Michigan Country: USA USDA Zone: 5/6 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 2,432	I agree, and I don't see a contradiction here either. I agree to entire article, I have said the same things here and in other places for years. Sometimes I get the impression that people simply do not understand just how old the practice of putting trees in pots and training them for purpose really is, try 2500 BC. In essence what we today call bonsai predates every civilization now existing in the world. It predates modern Europe, The UK and her offspring. It predates ancient Rome, Greece and most of the Asian cultures past and present. So what's the point? We think our selves a bit presumptious to boast of changing something as time tested as bonsai without considering the artistic merits of such an endeavour. The real underlying truth is something undefinable, something that you just can't seem to put your finger on or find words to define it. The fact is, bonsai has a quality of life beyond any other art form, in that there is something that draws people into it and compels them to want one or make one of their own. It is almost like possessing something from some dream world of a better place and a quiter time. The Japanese have a word for this quality called Kami. Loosely defined meaning Spirit. In music we would call it Soul, in politics we would call it Charisma. To create bonsai without considering this quality is to create bonsai without its most important element. To determine what this is one has to find it for themselves. Again another appeal of bonsai, the almost mystic esoteric quality that takes on an identity greater than a simple tree in a pot.