The formation of Oriental Bonsai Culture Circle

The formation and Origin of Bonsai Art in China

The formation of bonsai in China experienced the nature worship of primitive ancestors, from nature worship to Kunlun mythology (belief in Shenshan), from Kunlun mythology to immortal thought, from immortal thought to the birth of the garden technique of "one pool and three mountains". After the emergence and spread of Boshan furnace and Yanshan, it originated in the North China Plain during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). From then on, it opened the prelude to the historical development of Chinese bonsai for about 2000 years (figure 1, 2).

1.2 China's bonsai was introduced into the Korean Peninsula

According to historical records, under the influence of Chinese culture, Wang Gongzhong began to dig ponds and build mountains and plant flowers and trees in the last year of the era of Baji Chensi (385Mu391). At the same time, other traditional cultures have also been introduced into the Korean Peninsula from the mainland of China. Similarly, as early as 1600 years ago in the Silla era, the nature-loving and artistic people of Korea brought bonsai art back to the Korean Peninsula in the course of their contacts with China. Bonsai became popular in the Koryo period (918mur1392), bonsai became popular in the Li Dynasty (1392mur1910), bonsai entered the stage of popularity and development (figure 3); in the recent modern era (after 1910), especially since 1978, bonsai has become a hobby of ordinary Koreans and bonsai fever has sprung up.

China's bonsai was introduced into Japan.

According to the research of Dr. Liangji Iwasa, although there is no exact literature record, it can be speculated that the envoy of the Tang Dynasty brought the popular habit of planting trees and pots to Japan after the early Tang Dynasty. Luoyang famous flower peony, plum blossom and chrysanthemum, which became popular among the Japanese people in the Mid-Tang Dynasty, were brought back to Japan through these envoys. In addition, the earliest bonsai material in Japan is the "Tree on the Rock" depicted in the painting Volume of the Story of the West in Kamakura period. The bonsai is "bonsai" or "stone-attached", which should be closely related to the "bonsai" depicted in the murals of Li Xian's tomb in the early Tang Dynasty.

From the Heian dynasty (794mur1192) to the Kamakura era (1192mur1333), a large number of ceramics were imported from China to Japan. This can also be confirmed by ceramic fragments unearthed everywhere. The types of ceramics unearthed are mainly celadon, as well as blue-and-white porcelain, white porcelain and Tianmu porcelain. The unearthed addresses are concentrated in Dazaifu and Kamakura, which are the concentrated places of cultural exchanges between China and Japan in the Song Dynasty.

Similarly, the bonsai used in the scrolls from the Kamakura era to the Muromachi era (1333mur1555) is the same, when Japan was in the midst of a craze for Chinese objects. At that time, bonsai pots, like flower vases, were also shipped from China to Japan, which was similar to that of the Yuan Dynasty in China. For example, the drum-shaped basin in the Legend of painting by Man in Falan; the two pots of Acorus calamus in the experiential painting of Spring Rights are Chinese-made blue-and-white porcelain pots; the bag-shaped round pots for planting pine trees, the plum blossom round pots for planting plum blossoms and the bag-shaped plum blossom pattern round pots for planting begonia are all uniform pottery or Guangdong pots.

In Japan, porcelain was first successfully fired by Li Shenping, a naturalized man, in the Yuan and second years of the early Edo period (1616, late Ming Dynasty), while the glazed flowerpots began in the middle of Edo (1716 in 1722, during the reign of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty), it can be concluded that the above flowerpots were imported into China and were most likely to be in the Yuan Dynasty or the end of the Southern Song Dynasty. There is also the possibility of dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty and even the Tang Dynasty. In the 400 years since the Kamakura era, bonsai pots scattered in Kamakura, Muromachi and other paintings have basically been imported from China. Judging from the situation of the bonsai basin, there is no doubt that the earliest opportunity for the establishment of Japanese tree bonsai is in China.

In short, under the influence of Chinese culture and bonsai, Japan had a love of vegetation and interest in small rockery among aristocrats and literati during the Nara period (710-794), and "trees on the rock" and bonsai became popular in the Middle Ages (1192-1555). Then began the style of bonsai and potted stone in the five mountains Zen forest During the Edo period (1623-1868), the generals mostly indulged in the love of bonsai flowers and trees (figure 5: 7); during the Meiji period (1868-1911), bonsai began to develop (figure 8); by the Showa period (1925-1989), Japan has been in the international leading level in many fields of bonsai.

China's bonsai was introduced into Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines in Southeast Asia.

Bonsai was introduced into Vietnam at the end of the five dynasties (907mur959). Under the influence of Chinese culture in the Tang Dynasty, Vietnam began the history of "artificial rockery". The Records of the Great Yue historians recorded: "in the pre-Li period, the imperial world of the Daxing emperor, Yi you six years (Song Yongxi two years, 985 years) autumn, July." Set up a man-made mountain and look out from the Lezhou. The emperor's birthday on the fifteenth of that month. Boating in the river, carrying artificial mountains made of bamboo. The mountain is called Nanshan. Since then, it has been the gift of "boat opera".

The small rockery in Vietnam refers to the whole of the natural plants and rocky mountains, or refers to the exquisite man-made mountain. The important thing is to shrink the mountains for artificial imitation of natural things. In the process of more than 1000 years of development, Vietnam has inherited and developed the custom of furnishing this kind of rockery. There is usually a lot of water in the courtyards of homes and temples.

The center of the pool is stacked with one or more small rocks, on which short flowers and trees are planted and covered with moss, and between the flowers and plants are small models of houses, pagodas, and bridges, dotted with small characters or animals. In addition, there are goldfish in the water. The pool as a whole is called a "small mountain" in Vietnam (figure 9).

Bonsai was introduced into Thailand since ancient times, Thai people like to cultivate crops, trees and practical and ornamental plants for foliage. There are all kinds of plants in local parks and city parks, and works depicting plants can be seen in paintings and sculptures of cultural monuments. About 120 years ago, bonsai production technology was brought by Chinese people who emigrated to Thailand, and bonsai of native tree species suitable for climate and soil conditions in various parts of Thailand were quickly formed. All localities began to cultivate and watch bonsai, and soon spread throughout the country, gradually forming Thailand's unique bonsai art that matches Thai culture (figure 10).

Fig. 10 bonsai dancing in Thailand

China's bonsai was introduced into the Philippines in 1590, and Father Pedro Cherino from Spain preached to the Philippines. In his book, it is recorded that the Chinese in the 16th century brought bonsai to the Philippines for home decoration. This proves that bonsai was introduced into the Philippines in or before the 16th century.