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Indoor Bonsai Trees
Europeans have a different
relationship to plants. They are particularly use to cultivating indoor
pot plants all year round, while leaving trees to grow outside in the
garden. For this reason western gardeners prefer to use plants for bonsai
which can be kept indoors all year round, do not mind central heating and
might only go outside in the summer. The basic plant used for indoor
bonsai is therefore, generally a woody plant from tropical and sub
tropical regions, for example, from southern Japan southern China, the
tropical rain forests the dry plains of Australia or from the
Mediterranean countries. Most of these plants are species that we have
long been familiar with as house plants.
Rules for shaping a bonsai
There are curtain rules with govern the shaping of a bonsai. The ratio of
the dimensions of the crown to the trunk of the tree are determined just
as surely as the ideal position of the tree in its bowl. The same goes for
the number of plants in a group planting.
The Lo-Shu Square. [Matrix]
A square that has been divided into nine equal parts (see
figure 1) is used to symbolise heaven (centre) and
the eight cardinal points of the compass. These numbers (from 1 to 9 ) are
meant to represent particular characteristics of these eight directions.
The sum of each row of figures yields the number 15.
The ideal position in the bowl : The 5
in the centre of the Lo-Shu square is seen as the seat of the gods. The
points closest to the gods are the junctions of the outer squares with the
inner square. This makes these ideal points for the position of the plant
in its bowl.
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Ratio Of Dimensions :
The ideal proportions of a bonsai are also predetermined through
the use of the Lo-Shu square (Matrix). The central row of numbers (7,5,3)
is used in this calculation. This means that the ratio of the total height
of the tree to the crown, to the height of the stem should be 7:5:3 .
Example A tree that is 21cm (just over 8") in height should ideally
have a crown that is 15cm (6") in diameter, and a stem that is 9cm
(3") high . Even the size of the bowl can be calculated on this
principle. The ratio of the diameter of the crown or the height of the
tree to the length of the bowl should be 7:5. A tree 28cm (11") high
should therefore be planted in a bowl that is 20cm (8") long
Groups Of Plants:
If you use the numbers 7,5, 3 a group of eight trees should be divided
into two groups, one group off five an another group of three trees. The
trees themselves could be of different heights in a ratio of 7:5:3 (for
example 35cm [14"], 25cm[10"] and 15cm[6"] ).
The fibonacci Series
The second important series of numbers is the fibonacci series, a string
of numbers in which each successive number is found by adding the two
numbers immediately proceeding it: 0 , 1, 1, 2, 3,5, 8, 13, 21, 34 and so
on. Following this
figure 1
A Lo-Shu Square, a model for the harmony of the cosmos.
The sum of each row is 15. 5 is the centre seat of the gods.
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principle, three trees should therefore be planted in
two groups of one, and two trees. A group of five trees should be divided
into one group of two trees an another group of three trees.
Different Shapes
As the bonsai was originally conceived as an aid to meditation,
it should serve to draw the attention of the observer closer to the
energies of nature. For this reason the various shapes of Japanese bonsai
are not artistic in the sense that they are freely created shapes but have
always been derived from models in the wild.
Copies of Natural Trees
A well shaped bonsai should look like an exact copy of a large tree that
you might find in the wild. If you place a bonsai in front of a landscape
background an cover up the bowl , you should be able to create the
impression that the bonsai is part of the landscape. There are a few
clues, however, which always give the game away. A bonsai will never have
as many fine twigs as a large tree, nor are its leaves or needles small
enough to correspond to its miniaturised dimensions. A bonsai is not,
therefore, an exact copy but rather an abstract image of the natural tree.
A bonsai is grown in a flat bowl or in a tall slender container. The flat
bowl symbolises a flat piece of rock or a meadow. The tall containers,
which are used for cascades represent, steep rock from which the trees
protrude.
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