Asian Culture: The Reason You Bonsai?

clrosner

It seems that we all have diversified answers, and I am no different. I was never influenced by Asian Culture, all though as an artist I love their art.

Almost twenty years before I started into the addiction of Bonsai, my wife and I were at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. I walked into the Bonsai room and I was thunderstruck by the trees on display. I never forgot them

Zipping forward twenty years, my wife and I attended the Philadelphia Flower show, and we ended up in the commercial section. My wife saw a small Fukien Tea and asked if she could purchase it for me. I hastily agreeds and that was the start.
It is now, about 7 years later, and I still have that tree.

I had never grown anything but a few Cactus prior to obtaining my first tree. That was the beginning of a wonderful education, not only in Horticulture, but in this addiction, we call Bonsai.

__________________
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com

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Tony

Well for me it's mostly the love of the trees. I was growing trees in pots before I even knew it was an Asian thing to do or had heard the word bonsai, and I'm still not really into other parts of Asian culture. I mean it's interesting and all but I still wear my shoes inside the house.

Tony

FredL

It has kind of amazed me to find that the practice of Bonsai in no way necessarily results in a changed perspective on time, history, family, our human relationship to the natural environment and other values and traditions I associated with it and certain elements of Japanese culture when I first came into contact with Bonsai. No, not the dumb, superficial stuff like kimonos and chop sticks, but deeper, more abstract cultural charactaristics that I admired and felt we could use alot more of in our own, Western culture.

I have to confess, Iwas really mistaken in thinking that the practice of Bonsai might have any effect on most Westerners beyond finding it "beautiful" and wanting to have beautiful trees in pots of their own. After all, is there any more to the apprecition of "art" in modern Europe and America than the transitory enjoyment of beauty, leading to the deire to add works of art to the rest of our accumulated possessions? Including bonsai? Is there any real difference for most Westerners in acquiring a Bonsai or a new auto, the latest popular music CD or a really good dinner at the local barbecue restaurant? Any difference between developing our Bonsai and giving the lawn mower an oil change, vacuuming the living room or taking in a good show at the local movie theater? If there is, I can't see it.

For most Westerners, there is no meaning to Bonsai beyond whatever meaning we attatch to the rest of our secular and material existence. A dissapointing conclusion for me, but, at least, an honest one.

With best regards, Fred

Tony

"No, not the dumb, superficial stuff like kimonos and chop sticks, but deeper, more abstract cultural charactaristics that I admired and felt we could use alot more of in our own, Western culture."

Hello Fred,

Must have been my comment about wearing shoes in the house huh?

I think you are missing the point of the original question and most of the responses. I can only speak for myself but I did not say that bonsai hasn't changed my life. Only that it wasn't Asian cuture that got me into bonsai in the first place. Bonsai has made me more respectful of nature in general and more in ah of the creator of this universe. Hopefully it is also teaching me patience [although I still have my moments] and it's definitely a stress release. That's not an Asian thing but it's a good thing.

"Is there any real difference for most Westerners in acquiring a Bonsai or a new auto, the latest popular music CD or a really good dinner at the local barbecue restaurant? Any difference between developing our Bonsai and giving the lawn mower an oil change, vacuuming the living room or taking in a good show at the local movie theater? If there is, I can't see it."

Yep, there's a big difference. In bonsai we are dealing with living trees. We have to cause the stimulas then wait for a response and train the tree accordingly. It's more akin to training your dog to play frisbee than any of the analogies you made. It takes patience on both sides and you must keep the subject healthy and alive through the whole process. You just can't get that kind of enjoyment or frustration from popping a CD in the player. If the CD doesn't play then it was bad workmanship and a lemon. Then you go to Wal-mart and buy a new one. If the tree dies then YOU killed it. It's two totally different emotions.

Americans will only embrace the Asian culture so far. If you are thinking we'll all convert to Hinduism or Buddhism then don't hold your breath. The working title of my book is bonsai for Baptists.

Cheers

Tony