bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Bonsai and religious/ mythology symbolism

Good question.

Apparently, the Chinese and Japanese managed to do this with their bonsai. If you look at the countless landscape paintings and scrolls, their bonsai closely resembles the trees and lanscapes depicted on those images. I am sure that some of those trees have a whole story behind them.

As to how would we apply that to our culture and heritage, that's a great challenge. Especially, when trying to include thematic elements from our lores and mythology. But I am sure that we have artists who will eventuall succeed.

In fact, Nick Lenz has created some trees that incorporate fairies and goblins from the celtic mythology. He is the only one, as far as I know.

2-Oct-2007	#5
Attila Attila Soos Join Date: Jan-2002 Location: Los Angeles, California Country: USA Posts: 1,946	Good question. Apparently, the Chinese and Japanese managed to do this with their bonsai. If you look at the countless landscape paintings and scrolls, their bonsai closely resembles the trees and lanscapes depicted on those images. I am sure that some of those trees have a whole story behind them. As to how would we apply that to our culture and heritage, that's a great challenge. Especially, when trying to include thematic elements from our lores and mythology. But I am sure that we have artists who will eventuall succeed. In fact, Nick Lenz has created some trees that incorporate fairies and goblins from the celtic mythology. He is the only one, as far as I know.