Chinese Bonsai
In this article you will learn what is Chinese Bonsai and how it is different from the Japanese bonsai that everybody doing today.
When we talk about bonsai people always associate it with miniature trees that grow in a container and think that bonsai came from Japan. Not many people know that bonsai originated in China long time before getting to Japan. Chinese bonsai was created by aristocrats of China that were looking for a new way to express their imagination. There was no strict rules or styles to follow. Chinese artists were free to do whatever they want. Chinese bonsai was only available for upper class.
After Japan adapted this form of art it was made publicly available. That's why most people think that bonsai originated in Japan. Japanese artists developed set of rules and styles that everybody follows these days. Japanese bonsai is all about perfectly shaped tree that looks identical to a real tree.
Chinese bonsai, called Penjing, was not just about miniature tree, but more about creating a natural scene. You can split it into 2 most popular styles. First style is about miniature tree in the container called "Tree Penjing". The second style is about creating a landscape in the container called "Water and Landscape Penjing".
Chinese Bonsai gives an artist much more freedom and is great for beginners.
Have a great day!
Susan Brian
