Bonsai Plants - The Origins

The article below is from a series of Japanese gardening related articles and videos about growing bonsai trees …

The bonsai tree has been cultivated for centuries, not just for decoration but also to help people keep their minds in a state of peaceful harmony. Today, the world is a hectic, chaotic blur of activity and almost everyone endures unhealthy levels of stress at times. However, even in our fast paced world of today a person can still use bonsai art to create an environment of tranquility and serenity. One way to do this is by understanding how the ancients used this art form in their lives.

Close to 2000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty, the history of the Chinese bonsai tree began. At that time, the pastime was generally accepted as one for the wealthy. An early bonsai garden focused mostly on the images that could be created out of the bark from the trees. These images generally consisted of birds, dragons, and even animals. Today, both the bark transformations and the foliage are seen as being equally unique and important.

Over many years, Japan and China began to merge some aspects of their unique cultures together and the bonsai tree was one of the many things that was incorporated into the highly cultured country of Japan. At first, only the Buddhist monks engaged in this art form, yet eventually, the aristocracy took up the bonsai art and it became a status symbol for a long time. After this time and for many, many years afterwards, the art of bonsai lay predominantly within the Japanese culture. As time passed and Japan began to open up its doors to other countries, bonsai art became highly sought after in western countries for its serenity and beauty.

Cultural diversity is apparent all over the globe. The bonsai tree is one cultural art form that has found its way across time. No longer is the art of cultivating bonsai trees hidden behind the walls of Japan and China. This exciting art form has a history rich with culture and mythical implications. Thanks to today's connected world, almost anyone in the world can now experience the art of growing bonsai, which so many of the ancient Chinese and Japanese people did so long ago.

For more articles on bonsai garden care, go here: The Art Of Bonsai