Here are a few other observations:
Art:
1)
A form of human activity appealing to the imagination, especially drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, poetry, music, and dancing..............bonsai.
The arts are civilization's storehouse of felt values, the rendering of what has seemed important to those of powerful imagination and profound feeling and great mastery of
expression(Harper's).
2)
A branch of learning that depends more on special practice than on general principles:
Writing compositions is an art; grammar is a science.
3)
Working principles; methods.
The art of war. The art of Bonsai?
Archaic-
learning in general
These definitions came from a dictionary from the early 1950's.
I found them and thought I'd put them out for discussion.
I find it very difficult to philosophize when it comes to bonsai. I am more of a Zen type of person so.............I'll let you all do it instead.
I too
DO bonsai. I find that much easier to live with.
Interesting discussion though!