Literati Questions

BentBarrel

I have read as much as I could find in my books and online about literati. My question is about trunk taper and thickness. I have ran across one growing in a thicket that gets little light or fights for it. Its about an inch and a half at the base and tapers over about 3 1/2 feet to the tip of the apex at just 1/8 inch or so. So its pretty much straight and taperless. Theres twists and bends here and there but nothing spectacular.

What I was thinking was either chopping it at the first branch and wiring it in a windswept or either wiring the whole tree and making is like an s form to shorten the heigt by at one third bending it back to the ground and another one third back upward with some twists.

The question or doubts that I have is the taper. ITs a younger tree I believe. Its a pine and the bark is pretty smooth. Theres really nothing to make the impression of age unless I jin the lower branches and make other mods like that. The taper is what makes it look like a young tree I believe. But looking through images of bunjin and literati trees they dont all look old to me.

What are your opinions on bunjin/literati as far as taper and trunk diameter.

I could always prune them and let them grow where they are.

Advertisement

PatArizona

G'day Ben...

First, the only "rules" for bunjin/literati are...tall and slender, and most often, little foliage at the top, only.

Next, "...taper and trunk diameter..." are, generally of little concern with bunjin/literati.

Finally, the "S" that you describe would likely not make a good bonsai...you would most likely end up with a curiosity rather than a good example of bonsai. However, that doesn't mean DON'T DO IT. If it works for you...why not?

Please note that the above statements are conditional..."most often" and "generally" and "likely".

Look at loads of pictures...google and books.

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

BentBarrel

I was thinking something along these lines of the pics I attached.

I was going to do something with the trunk to compact the foliage closer to the bottom. I saw these pics and thought of the tree. I could also cut the top out or jin it and use the first branch for the apex to compact it further. It just doesnt have good taper.

Attached Images

	bunjin.gif (19.4 KB, 36 views)
	Literati.gif (33.5 KB, 25 views)
	3036.jpg (6.7 KB, 36 views)
	sho107.jpg (36.0 KB, 43 views)
	pinus2.jpg (19.7 KB, 50 views)

weeijk

Here you can find all the info you need, good luck.


http://www.bonsai-bci.com/literati.htm

Cheers, Wessel

__________________
Every tree can be a bonsai, but only some will be.

Larry

Yes that is an excellent resource, I was looking ast that last night,very inspring and simply explained. Literati breaks most of the rules of bonsai. You can have branches crossing the trunk or each other,almost zero taper and even have one semi cascade.Makes it sound easy but some artistic flair is needed.

__________________
Today is or was yesterday's tomorrow

anttal63

YEP pat and larry have said it. personally literate or not i always strive to get taper at all cost. its the differance between good trees and great ones.

__________________
Antonio . . .
------------------------------------

lehket

BentBarrel,

As I understand it, the main rule in bunjin is that there are no rules. But that doesn't mean that any old tree is bunjin. There must be artistry to it.

I have only created one bunjin so far. It hasn't much in the way of taper, but the base is interesting due to some exposed roots and considerable scaring on the lower trunk. I've positioned it to show off these features, which lead up to a smooth, twisting stretch of trunk and finally a burst of leaves at the end, pointing out toward the viewer. (I need to take a photo of it; don't have one at the moment.)

The tree is a green ash, which ordinarily wouldn't work well for bonsai because it grows rather large compound leaves. But right now the leaves are still small and it works beautifully. When they get larger, well, it's bunjin, so I just throw the rule book out the window.

__________________
--Dale
----------
Co-author of Spiritual Telemetry,
Host of Planet Baha'i and the Planet Baha'i Forum

IndieBookMan

Dale, this is the tree you were telling me about at the BBC meeting, isn't it? I would love to see it - if you get a chance to post a picture it would be great.

brad

__________________
Brad Grochowski
AuthorsBookshop.com

BentBarrel

Thats a really simple explanation but it tells a lot. Im going to shoot for something like the one from the second rule to compact the tree I believe.

I dont know how I didnt run across that website. Thanks for posting it.

I have aquired about a dozen or more books on bonsai but I havent one about literati. Yamadori, wild grown trees and the style of them interests me the most. I think that literati is a interesting subsection for me and follows up as a close second for me. I know that you dont have to wild collect them to be literati but my favorite trees are those that have been collected generally.

Attached Images

slide0006_image007.gif (9.1 KB, 11 views)