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 Amazing History of the Indoor Bonsai Tree

In order to fully appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of an indoor bonsai tree it is helpful to understand the history of Bonsai. From China, to Japan, to the US, the hobby of bonsai has traveled across the world over thousands of years to arrive with us today as a true art form, and pleasure to people all over the globe. Bonsai, and Bonsai trees, are general terms for any tree or shrub in miniature form that is kept in a pot.

Bonsai which literally translated from the Japanese character "Bon" meaning tray and "Sai" meaning plant, actually originated not in Japan where it was made famous by such movies as Karate Kid, but in China. The Chinese term is Penjing from the character "Pen" translated tray and "Jing" which is scenery. The characters for "Bon" in Japanese and "Pen" in Chinese are actually identical. The first documented proof of the existence of Penjing, or Bonsai, was found in the tomb of Prince Zhang Huai who died in 706 A.D. One of the paintings found in the tomb shows a servant carrying a miniature landscape, and in another a servant is shown carrying a plant in a pot. It has been stated that the Chinese were infatuated with miniaturization in general and believed that miniature objects had concentrated mystical and magical powers. Chinese bonsai trees are characterized by sparse foliage and rugged trunks which often looks like dragons, birds and animals.

There is debate about exactly when bonsai were brought to Japan. It is believed to be either the Heian period (794 - 1191A.D.) or the Kamakura period (1185 - 1333). There is a Japanese scroll attributed to the year 1195 that seems to refer to bonsai. At first, bonsai in general, especially indoor bonsai trees, were limited to Buddhist monks who wanted to bring a little bit of nature into their bleak quarters. Later, the care and keeping of bonsai trees expanded to the aristocracy and was a symbol of prestige and honor. In the 1300's cultivating bonsai spread to the general population. Once this happened, there were great strides in the techniques for training bonsai. This is probably the reason that general knowledge states that bonsai was created in Japan. For the Japanese, bonsai represents harmony between man, the soul, and nature, and usually more closely resembles larger trees that are found in nature than the Chinese version.

At the End of World War II, bonsai trees made it across the ocean to the US with the returning soldiers. Even though most of the bonsai brought home by the soldiers died quickly, interest in indoor bonsai trees was sparked. Americans wanted to learn how to properly care for bonsai, and Japanese-Americans were crucial to help them gain the knowledge they needed to keep their bonsai alive. Modern American bonsai represents a combination and blurring of both Chinese and Japanese techniques and practices.

Learning a little about the history of indoor bonsai trees will make your bonsai experience even more special. Bonsai have crossed through centuries, countries, and even income levels to become the art form we now know. Learning about and growing your own bonsai tree brings you closer to nature and history and can be an art form that you can enjoy for a lifetime.

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