Chinese Bonsai Blog

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of research into the Chinese style of bonsai, also called “penjing.”  In my travels online, I found a useful webpage at http://www.fukubonsai.com/2a2.html.  This page gives us a peek into the origins of the Chinese bonsai style.

Penjing bonsai trees are VERY different from the ones that are usually found for sale throughout the world.  (Those are usually Japanese-style bonsai.)  For one thing, the creators of the Penjing style of bonsai just enjoyed growing plants in pots for fun.  They were even OK with growing ugly, “weird” trees because they were great conversation pieces.

I think that this is a great mindset to have when you’re starting your first beginner bonsai.  Too many times, we can suffer from “analysis paralysis,” where we are so overwhelmed by rules and styles and requirements that we just don’t know where to start.  I know that I’ve been very afraid of doing something “wrong,” so I ended up not doing anything at all!  Isn’t it liberating to think that the very first people who started cultivating bonsai trees, were not so overly concerned with details?
The authors of the Fuku Bonsai website have invented two “rules” for Penjing bonsai:

PENJING RULE #1:  “SMILE!”  Penjing is an art and a hobby to be enjoyed.  When you smile, your mind opens up, you create, and you enjoy!

PENJING RULE #2:   “DON’T LET ANYONE MAKE UP ANY MORE RULES!”

If you have ever found yourself “stuck” with your bonsai trees, try these Penjing rules!  You’re bound to come up with something original.  After all, part of the fun of bonsai is creating a tiny tree.  Let’s not forget the “creative” part of the process.