BunjinEnt

After seeing some responses to a recent thread about the decline of quality in the leading English language Bonsai magazine and this site, I started thinking about the nature of the Bonsai "Masterpiece" and Bonsai "Master".

I searched the threads looking for this type of discussion and found plenty of references to key words, but no difinitive discussions on this topic. I'm sure it will heat up much like a discussion of "what is art?" but some of the comments within Al Keppler's "A Keppler Editorial" really put a burr in my craw. So, here it is.

What is the nature of a Bonsai Masterpiece?

Does it have to rigidly adhere to the Japanese rules? or the new Naturalistic Rules? Does it have to be styled by a master from germination? Does it have to be styled by a master at all, or can it be styled by a master's apprentice? Does it have to be a minimum age? Does it have to have been styled for a minimum amount of time? Does the pot it is in have to be handmade? Does the pot have to be handmade by a master? Does the tree have to be a certain style? Does it have to be one of the few approved species? or...

Does it have to appeal to a certain percentage of the "Bonsai Community"? If so, does it need a simple majority or does it have to be over-whelming numbers? or must it inspire awe in the un-educated masses?

Does it have to win at Kokufu-ten or does it qualify as a masterpiece if it is accepted to show there? Does it have to win ANY awards? If so, which ones? And if the awards are given, does it have to continue winning awards for generations or does it become a has-been and sent to stud? Does it cease to be a masterpiece when it dies? Is there a group of folks that caucus and dub trees as masterpieces periodically?

Or is it as simple as: the artist steps back from his work and is satisfied, puts down his (her) cutters and says: "It's a masterpiece." "It is worthy of posterity."

Which leads to: The Nature of a Master

Who becomes a master? Anyone with talent and longevity in the art? If so, how long do you have to be in the art? How does one become a master? Do you have to apprentice with a master? For how long? Until the Master says you're a master? Do you have to come from a long pedigree of masters? Do you have to apprentice with a Japanese master? or does a certain percentage of your regional Bonsai Community have to deem you a master? In the day and age of the internet, does it have to be the whole world?

Do you have to raise a masterpiece from germination or can you use yamadori to create a masterpice to achieve the title "Master"? Do you have to create a masterpiece at all to be a master? Can you buy a masterpiece and restyle it to become a master? or are you merely a curator?

Can you be a master of one species or style or do you have to conquer all styles and species? As this would exclude all of the old Japanese masters in the new openess of Bonsai, are there, then, degrees of master? (He/She is a master of this style or that species.)Is it possible someone has all of the knowledge of a master, but is just waiting for his trees to mature to Masterpiece level? Or will that newbie become a master if he lucks out and finds an old yamadori that lives after harvesting, moves the perfect branches into perfect position has perfect taper on the trunk and can place the perfect Nebari in the perfect pot and posts it or publishes it and wins a few awards and the massses bleet: "WOW!" If not, how many times must the newbie do this and for how long to be deemed a master?

Does this, then, all hinge on recognition? Both Master and Masterpiece? Or can someone with a firm grasp of the knowledge, who waits decades playing with plants or can pick (or afford) good stock, but can't afford to run around the world doing demos and winning awards ever become a master?

Does it then hinge on ego? "I am recognized around the world as being good therefore my peer group is small?" Or are you a master when you have a good grasp of how it works, what it works on, what looks good, your trees thrive as Bonsai and people in your region that are working on the same species look to you for answers?

Until the time when someone deems you a master are you merely "Good" or "Know what you're doing?"

I dunno, I see trees in this site and in books that WOW me every day. Does this mean you have to be jaded and not be "WOW-ed" by the majority of trees that really good bonsai enthusiasts open themselves to criticism in pride of their accomplishments, in order to be a master?

I'll stop there.
Thanks for reading. I am interested in your thoughts.

William

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