Buddhism and Bonsai?

Shambhala

I have been practicing Buddhism for about a year, and I have to say that my Juniper seems to have quite a lot to do with the philosophy. I have always enjoyeed going for a walk and seeing nature, but now I find complete pleasure in walking outside and looking at trees, thinking of how they reflect the rules of Bonsais (and vice-versa) and just how awesome they really are. Also, patience has been a huge part, and my tree has helped me be more and more patient and calm.

I remember reading in a book that Bonsai's actually started with monks, as a way to see beauty in everything and to practice patience. Does anyone have anymore information on this - I haven't been able to find any.

Thanks

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TreeBay

I've put what I could find together in bonsaiTALK Links* under Education->History. That section has a miscellany of information on bonsai.

Regards,

Matt

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denny

ive always felt that raising indoor plants,and more recently bonsai has been an excelent lesson in patience.

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Denny
Still Growing in zone 9
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Robert

Here's an "off the top of my head" short history of bonsai, as I understand it: Herbal medicine was known in China for close to 2,000 years; the herbalists used to bring their plants with them in pots or boxes so they could pick the leaves, cut the roots, etc. from their living specimens. In time many of these plants took on "tree-like" qualities, gnarled roots, trunks, etc, some of which resembled dragons, and other mythological figures. These were seen as attractive, and some added "potency" to the herbal cures. When Buddhism was brought to China, the "medicine men", were naturals for becomming priests, and with the herbal history, very easily incorporated the Buddhist appreciation of nature with their herbal plants. By this time, some were not necessarily "herbal" but some were purely "beautiful plants with curious shapes".\
Over time these plants, eventually called "Pun sai", Chinese for tree in a pot, became art objects, and objects for meditation. (From Medication to Meditation, eh?)
When Buddhism spread to Japan Bonsai, (the Japanese term) came with it. The Japanese, however, did what they did with most things they imported....they applied the more strict refinements to the art....and Buddhism developed into Zen Buddhism, and similarly, the austerity and purity of that thinking applied to also Bonsai....and thusly the more "rigid" stylings, the more precise rules and techniques were applied, and
bonsai became what it was in Japan prior to WW II.
Of course, what happened with Bonsai since WWII is an interesting story too......but for the moment, I'll stop here.
I hope this enhances your understanding of the history and the inter-relationship of Bonsai and Buddhism.

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Robert.........in Sta.Cruz

Bonsainut

*The way Bonsai started is not exactly known. *I mean there wasn't a single event that started it. *I imagine that there were monks in there somewhere, though, or monkeys oh no thats another subject, sorry.
* I also find myself looking at all trees and trimming them mentally for bonsai. *Even the Gigantic General Sherman Redwood tree I was trimming and verbally jinning last summer on a trip to the redwoods. *My wife says give it a rest would ya!
*

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Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

jimmygreen

Haha, bonsainut, i'm the very same way! My friends like to poke fun at the way i analyze trees in the wild so closely as if they were my own. And I'm always catching myself thinking, 'hmm, those two branhces are awfully close together. If only I had shears..." It's funny what bonsai can do to ya!