Art Appreciation: Bonsai

By: Mangyan Bonsai

Little trees, dwarfed trees - these are some of the names people have called bonsai. Bonsai, by definition, means an ornamental tree or shrub grown in a pot and artificially prevented from reaching its normal size. It was derived from the Japanese terms: 

Bon - which means tray

and 

sai - which means planting

(Source: Google)

Bonsai symbolizes harmony, peace, order of thoughts and balance. This Japanese art entails a lot of patience as you will not get the result you want instantly. A bonsai can reach its potential or ideal look in as early as two years, some will take more. (Source: Mangyan Bonsai)

Bonsai comes in different sizes. They are classified according to height. Shown below is an image of bonsai(s) in different sizes, in reference to human's height. 

(Source: Bonsai Sanctum)

Keishi - can grow up to 1 inch or 2.5 cm in height, or the size of your thumb;

Shito - can grow up to 3 inches or 7.5 cm, or a bit "taller" than a cotton bud;

Mame - can grow up to 6 inches or 15 cm, or a bit taller than a regular-sized, paperback pocketbook;

Shohin - can grow up to 8 inches or 20 cm, or about the size of a dinner fork, which is 18 cm; 

Kifo Sho - can grow up to 16 inches or 40.5 cm - I can't find anything to compare it with; 

Chu bonsai - up to 24 inches or 61 cm, or as tall as two 12-inch rulers stacked on top of the other;

Dai bonsai - up to 40 inches or 101.5 cm.

(Source: Google)

A friend introduced me to a Facebook group named Bonsai Institute of the Philippines, an online school for bonsai enthusiast. BIP aims to teach the art of bonsai through personal hands-on training or online instructional methods. The group page was created on January 15, 2016. (Source: Bonsai Institute of the Philippines)

Below are some of the bonsai(s) that a good friend, Mangyan Bonsai, have worked on:

Common name: Santan
Scientific name: Ixora coccinea
Owner: Santiago Navarro

BEFORE

AFTER

Common name: Argao Taiwan

Scientific name: Premna microphyllia

BEFORE

AFTER

Common name: Kambilog

Scientific name: Poileniela fragilis

Owner: Angelica Ilag

BEFORE

AFTER

These are samples of bonsai(s) that took years of nurturing, cultivating; tons of time and patience before it looked like the after photos. If you are interested to learn more about bonsai, you can join Bonsai Institute of the Philippines or like Mangyan Bonsai's Facebook page or visit his blog. 

"The object is to not make the tree look like a bonsai, but to make the bonsai look like a tree." - John Naka