What is Bonsai?
Bonsai, pronounced as "bone sigh", is a living art and discipline. It involves cultivating and meticulously shaping trees within containers, aiming to evoke the grandeur of ancient trees found in nature. Bonsai can range in size from just a few inches tall to several feet in height.
Bonsai has its roots in China (penjing = "tray scenery") dating back more than 2000 years before making its way to Japan. This captivating art form gained popularity during the Edo period, spanning from 1603 to 1867. Similar arts exist in other cultures, including Korea's bunjae, the Chinese art of penjing (tray scenery) and the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese Hòn non bộ (rockery).
