Bonsai Trees

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Bonsai trees are on the oldest art forms. Bonsai is the ancient art of the Chinese. The word bonsai is Chinese for a tree that has been dwarfed. The art of bonsai is actually dwarfing a tree or making it small. This means to make it a full grown tree just really small. The art of bonsai has been around for thousands of years. It first came around as a simple art known as Pun-Sai this was just early specimens in pots.(www.bonsaisite.com/history1.html) The Chinese based their shaping of the trees on Dragons and serpents. The Japanese then started their own form of Bonsai during the Kamakura period (1185 1333). (www.bonsaisite.com/history1.html)

The history Bonsai is a long and ancient one. The Chinese actually started the first type of bonsai called Pun-Sai. This form was created during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.) Bonsai, according to legend, was started by the emperor of China. In his courtyard he made a miniature version of his entire empire. This miniature version was complete with hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and trees. (www.celestialbonsai.com/history.html) If the legend is true this would be the first form of bonsai. However in this Courtyard the trees were relatively big. Unlike the later form of Bonsai with really dwarfed trees. The trees used here were just stunted or were naturally small. In the form of Bonsai today the trees are dwarfed and kept in pots. It took a long time to develop because the emperor wanted it for himself. He stated that any found with the miniature landscapes would be put to death because they were a threat to the empire.

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Another legend states that Chinese poet and civil servant named Guen-ming. It's believed that after his retirement he began growing chrysanthemums in pots. S...

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...highly prized today. Chinese bonsai come from the landscape of images of fiery dragons and coiled serpents; this takes far greater precedence over natural beauty unlike the Japanese. The Japanese focus on using native species for their bonsai namely pines, azaleas and maples (regarded as the traditional bonsai plants). In other countries, people are more open to opinion, even perennial herbs and common weeds are grown as summer bonsai. It is generally accepted that most bonsai are trees or shrubs. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/21746464/The-Ancient-Art-of-Bonsai)

Works Cited

http://www.scribd.com/doc/21746464/The-Ancient-Art-of-Bonsai)

www.celestialbonsai.com/history.html.)

www.celestialbonsai.com/history.html.)

www.celestialbonsai.com/history.html.)

www.celestialbonsai.com/history.html)

www.bonsaisite.com/history1.html)

www.bonsaisite.com/history1.html)

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