The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation by Vincent T. Covello & Yuji Yoshimura

Author:Vincent T. Covello & Yuji Yoshimura [Covello, Vincent T. & Yoshimura, Yuji]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Fig. 88. Thatched-hut stone with an Ezo spruce bonsai.

For maximum effect, the suiseki and bonsai should capture the spirit of their full-size counterparts. The best suiseki are those that suggest the forms of nature with a minimum of detail. The best bonsai are those that suggest the natural characteristics of the full-sized tree. Bonsai fitting this description usually have small leaves, needles, flowers, and fruits; a tapered trunk and attractive bark that gives the impression of age; thick foliage growing in dense clusters; and branches that are in balance and in scale with the size of the tree.

Bonsai can be styled in several different shapes through pruning, trimming, and wiring. Most of these styles are variations on five basic shapes: formal upright, informal upright, slanting, semi-cascade, and cascade (Figs. 89-93). These styles are based on the angle at which the trunk slants away from the vertical. Needle evergreen trees can be planted in any of these five styles. Other species (broadleaf evergreen trees, deciduous trees, and flowering trees) are usually not created in the formal upright style, although other styles are appropriate. Another major style is the multiple-trunk style (Fig. 109) in which several trunks rise from a common root system. Except for plants with a double trunk, most bonsai artists prefer those with an uneven number of trunks divided at the base in a V shape. Ideally, the trees should vary in height and thickness, with the trunk of the main tree somewhat heavier and taller than the others. The multiple-trunk style is especially useful and popular, since it is easier to maintain than individual bonsai plantings.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.